TRanscatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation Without On-site Cardiac Surgery (TRACS-PRIME)

May 26, 2026 updated by: Gianluca Campo, University Hospital of Ferrara

TRanscatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation Without On-site Cardiac Surgery Broadened Access

TRACS-PRIME is a prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial evaluating whether transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) can be performed safely and effectively in selected hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery, when appropriate patient selection, experienced operators, advanced imaging, and established transfer pathways are available. The study will include patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who have an indication for TAVI confirmed by a multidisciplinary Heart Team. Eligible patients will be randomized to undergo TAVI either in a center without on-site cardiac surgery or in a center with on-site cardiac surgery. All procedures will be performed according to current standards of care by experienced TAVI operators. The main purpose of the study is to determine whether TAVI performed in centers without on-site cardiac surgery is not inferior to TAVI performed in centers with on-site cardiac surgery with respect to clinical outcomes at 1 year. The primary clinical outcome includes death from any cause, stroke, or hospitalization related to the procedure or the implanted valve. The study will also assess safety outcomes, including valve-related death and major procedural or technical complications. Participants will be followed after hospital discharge to assess clinical events, safety, and longer-term outcomes. An independent committee blinded to treatment allocation will review clinical events, and an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board will monitor patient safety during the trial.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis is a common and clinically relevant condition in elderly and high-risk patients. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an established treatment option for patients with an appropriate indication after multidisciplinary Heart Team evaluation. As the number of patients eligible for TAVI continues to increase, access to timely treatment may be limited by the availability and capacity of hospitals with on-site cardiac surgery. Historically, TAVI has generally been performed in centers with on-site cardiac surgery because of the potential need for emergency surgical management of rare but severe procedural complications. However, advances in patient selection, pre-procedural imaging, device technology, procedural planning, and operator experience have reduced the frequency of complications requiring emergent cardiac surgery. These developments have raised the question of whether selected patients can safely undergo TAVI in appropriately organized centers without on-site cardiac surgery, provided that strict procedural safeguards are in place. The TRACS study was previously conducted as a pilot randomized clinical project to evaluate this strategy. That study supported the feasibility and safety of performing TAVI in selected centers without on-site cardiac surgery under a structured protocol, experienced operators, multidisciplinary patient selection, and predefined safety procedures. TRACS-PRIME is designed to extend this experience in a larger and more generalizable randomized trial. TRACS-PRIME is a prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label trial with blinded adjudication of clinical outcomes. Patients with severe aortic stenosis and an indication for TAVI confirmed by a multidisciplinary Heart Team will be considered for enrollment. Before randomization, patients will undergo standard clinical, echocardiographic, laboratory, coronary, and computed tomography evaluation to confirm eligibility, assess procedural feasibility, and identify factors that may increase procedural risk. Eligible patients who provide written informed consent will be randomized to one of two treatment strategies. In the experimental strategy, TAVI will be performed in a participating center without on-site cardiac surgery. These centers must have experienced TAVI operators, advanced cardiac imaging, established collaboration with a referral cardiac surgery department, and predefined procedures for rapid transfer in case of complications. In the control strategy, TAVI will be performed in a center with on-site cardiac surgery. In both groups, the procedure will be performed according to current guidelines, local standards of care, and the judgment of experienced TAVI operators. The study is intended to evaluate whether TAVI performed in centers without on-site cardiac surgery is not inferior to TAVI performed in centers with on-site cardiac surgery in terms of clinical efficacy and safety at 1 year. Clinical events will be collected prospectively and adjudicated by an independent Clinical Events Committee blinded to treatment allocation. Patient safety and trial conduct will be monitored by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board. After hospital discharge, participants will undergo structured clinical follow-up to assess clinical status, adverse events, hospitalizations, and other relevant outcomes. The overall aim of TRACS-PRIME is to determine whether a carefully controlled strategy of TAVI in selected centers without on-site cardiac surgery can preserve patient safety while potentially improving access to timely treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1612

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Gianluca Campo, MD
  • Phone Number: +39 0532236450
  • Email: cmpglc@unife.it

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Italy
      • Ferrara, Italy
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Ferrara
        • Contact:
      • Mirano, Italy
      • Venezia, Italy

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion criteria

  1. Severe aortic stenosis
  2. Indication to TAVI confirmed by the Heart Team

AND one of the following enrichment criteria:

  1. Prohibitive operative risk
  2. High surgical risk as defined as STS score >8%
  3. Porcelain aorta or severely atherosclerotic aorta
  4. Frailty/Reduced physical performance
  5. Severe liver disease/cirrhosis
  6. Hostile chest and/or internal mammalian artery or other critical conduit(s) crossing midline and/or adhering to the posterior table of the sternum
  7. Severe pulmonary hypertension and/or severe right ventricular dysfunction
  8. Age ≥85 years
  9. Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) The criteria listed above qualify the patient for eligibility in the study if present immediately after the heart team has indicated TAVI. However, this does not exclude patients without these criteria from entering the study if the heart team's evaluation still considers their risk/benefit profile appropriate for inclusion in the protocol.

Exclusion criteria

  1. Unsuitable for transfemoral TAVI
  2. Emergent TAVI
  3. Non-cardiovascular comorbidity reducing life expectancy to <1 year
  4. Any factor precluding 1-year follow-up
  5. Refusal of informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: TAVI in center without on-site cardiac surgery
Participants assigned to this arm will undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a participating center without on-site cardiac surgery. The procedure will be performed by experienced TAVI operators according to current guidelines, institutional standards, and pre-procedural Heart Team assessment. Participating centers must have appropriate imaging, procedural expertise, and predefined pathways for rapid transfer to a referral cardiac surgery center if needed.
Procedure: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is performed as the study procedure in patients with severe aortic stenosis and an indication for TAVI confirmed by the multidisciplinary Heart Team. The procedure is performed according to current guidelines and institutional standards by experienced TAVI operators. In this trial, the intervention is evaluated according to the setting in which it is performed: either in a center without on-site cardiac surgery or in a center with on-site cardiac surgery.
Active Comparator: TAVI in center with on-site cardiac surgery
Participants assigned to this arm will undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a center with on-site cardiac surgery. After randomization, patients will be referred to the collaborating cardiac surgery center and treated according to the local waiting list and standard clinical practice. The procedure will be performed by experienced TAVI operators in accordance with current guidelines, institutional standards, and pre-procedural Heart Team assessment.
Procedure: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is performed as the study procedure in patients with severe aortic stenosis and an indication for TAVI confirmed by the multidisciplinary Heart Team. The procedure is performed according to current guidelines and institutional standards by experienced TAVI operators. In this trial, the intervention is evaluated according to the setting in which it is performed: either in a center without on-site cardiac surgery or in a center with on-site cardiac surgery.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
all-cause mortality, all stroke, or hospitalization for procedure- or valve-related causes
Time Frame: 1-year
The primary clinical efficacy outcome is a composite endpoint defined as the occurrence of any of the following events within 1 year after randomization: death from any cause, any stroke, or hospitalization related to the TAVI procedure or to the implanted valve. This endpoint will be assessed prospectively and adjudicated by an independent Clinical Events Committee blinded to treatment allocation.
1-year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
All-cause death
Time Frame: 1-year
1-year
Cardiovascular death
Time Frame: 1-year
1-year
All stroke
Time Frame: 1-year
1-year
Ischemic stroke
Time Frame: 1-year
1-year
Haemorrhagic stroke
Time Frame: 1-year
1-year
Stroke not otherwise specified
Time Frame: 1-year
1-year
Procedure-related or valve-related hospitalization
Time Frame: 1-year
Hospitalization for procedure-related or valve-related causes is defined according to VARC-3 criteria. It includes any hospital admission, or prolongation of an index hospitalization, primarily due to complications or clinical events related to the TAVI procedure, vascular access, implanted valve, or valve function, including valve dysfunction, valve-related complications, or other clinically relevant procedure-associated adverse events.
1-year
Other cardiovascular hospitalization
Time Frame: 1-year
1-year
Myocardial infarction
Time Frame: 1-year
1-year
Aortic bioprosthetic valve dysfunction
Time Frame: 1-year
1-year

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Valve-related mortality, cardiac structural complications or other acute procedural and technical valve-related complications
Time Frame: 1-year
The primary safety outcome is a composite endpoint defined as the occurrence within 1 year of any of the following events: valve-related mortality, cardiac structural complications, or other acute procedural and technical valve-related complications. Events will be defined according to VARC-3 criteria and adjudicated by an independent Clinical Events Committee blinded to treatment allocation.
1-year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University Hospital of Ferrara

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Gianluca Campo, MD, University Hospital Of Ferrara

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 25, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 25, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 25, 2034

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 17, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 26, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 635/2025/Sper/AOUFe

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data may be made available upon reasonable request after publication of the main study results. Requests will be reviewed by the Steering Committee and will be considered based on scientific merit, feasibility, participant privacy, and compliance with applicable ethical and regulatory requirements. Any data sharing will require appropriate approvals and a data use agreement.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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