The Influence of Cerebral Protection on Neurocognitive Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)

Severe aortic stenosis is a common heart condition affecting elderly patients. Degeneration of the aortic valve (oneway valve between the heart and the aorta) causes high resistence to blood flow, resulting in strain on the heart and the potential for heart failure and death. Treatment of aortic stenosis has traditionally been with open heart surgery. A new procedure called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) allows new aortic valves to be implanted through the femoral arteries, resulting in equivalent outcomes to open surgery with a more rapid recovery. Some complications remain present however, including the risk of debris released during the valve implantation being carried by the blood stream into the brain. This may lead to strokes and a loss of mental capacity. Devices that filter the blood stream and capture this debris have now been developed but are of uncertain benefit. We plan to investigate the brain function of patients who have been randomly assigned to the TAVI procedure with and without the use of filters to see if there are any cognitive benefits to the use of this technology.

Patients who are enrolled in the BHF PROTECT-TAVI trial will be invited to partcipate in this trial. They will have already been randomly assigned to TAVI with or without cerebral filter use. We will perform a series of bedside clinical tests (lasting ~40 minutes) involving questionnaires, pen & paper and computer-based tasks. These will be performed both pre- and post-TAVI. There is no change to routine patient care. Data will be analysed with the assistance of trained neuropsychologists and will provide a valuable insight into the performance and role of the cerebral filter for TAVI patients in the future.