Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Versus Standard Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVISAR)

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Versus Standard Surgical Aortic Valve Operation for Aortic-Valve Stenosis in Patients at Risk to Severe Valve Obstruction.

The mechanical intervention is treating aortic valve stenosis (AVS) which may be performed using the standard open surgical approach for aortic valve replacement (AVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The key question of this study is to establish the difference in all-cause and cause-specific (cardiac vs noncardiac) mortality, all hospitalizations for heart failure within 24 months of follow-up, left ventricular reverse remodeling after adjustment for death, as assessed by means of the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), in patients who received the TAVI vs the standard surgical procedure for AVS.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Prosthesis Survival; Prosthesis; Cardiac, Heart, Functional Disturbance as Result
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation; Procedure: Bioprothesis; Procedure: Sutureless

Detailed Description

The target population enrolled in the study includes patients with aortic-valve stenosis at risk to severe valve obstruction who have had TAVI or standard surgical procedure of their aortic valve with or without coronary artery by pass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Individuals were adequately treated per applicable standards, including for coronary artery disease (CAD), left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, AVS, and heart failure (HF). Patients enrolled in the studies were New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II, III, or outpatient NYHA IV.

Three groups of patients are included in the study. Patients who were managed with TAVI, patients who received AVR with conventional stented xenograft and recipients of AVR undergoing surgery with the use of sutureless aortic valve.

we calculated that a total of 649 patients per group would be needed for 90% power to show an absolute between-groups difference of 10% in the primary outcome at a two-sided alpha level of 0.02 (corrected alpha level to take into account multiple comparison between 3 groups). In this exhaustive study between 2011 and 2021, we hope to include a total of 6700 patients (2800 in the TAVI group, 3200 patients who received AVR with conventional stented xenograft and 700 patients with the use of sutureless aortic valve).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 4000

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Saint-Denis, France, 93200
    • Francesco Nappi

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults with aortic valve stenosis with or without CAD who were symptomatic of congestive heart failure and unresponsive to medical therapy and who were eligible for mechanical intervention performed with the use of TAVI procedure or surgical aortic valve replacement. The severity of AVS was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography, performed using the European Society of Echocardiography criteria.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals enrolled in TAVI arm were required to have the predicted risk of operative mortality was ≥ 15% and/or a STS score of ≥ 10. A candidate who did not meet the STS score criteria of ≥ 10 was included in the study if a peer review by at least two surgeon investigators concluded and documented that the patient's predicted risk of operative mortality was ≥ 15%. For all group Senile degenerative aortic valve stenosis with echocardiography derived criteria: mean gradient > 40 mm Hg or jet velocity > 4.0 m/s or an aortic valve area (AVA) of < 0.8 cm2 (or AVA index < 0.5 cm2/m2).

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Patients with evidence of an acute myocardial infarction ≤ 1 month before the intended treatment (defined as Q wave MI, or non-Q wave MI with total CK elevation ≥ twice normal in the presence of CK-MB elevation and/or troponin level elevation.

  • Blood dyscrasias as defined : leukopenia (WBC < 3000 mm3), acute anemia (Hb < 9 mg%), thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 50,000 cells/mm³), history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy.
  • Hemodynamic instability requiring inotropic therapy or mechanical hemodynamic support devices
  • Need for emergency surgery for any reason.
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with or without obstruction.
  • Severe ventricular dysfunction with LVEF < 20%.
  • Echocardiographic evidence of intracardiac mass, thrombus or vegetation.
  • Active peptic ulcer or upper gastro-intestinal bleeding within the prior 3 months.
  • A known hypersensitivity or contraindication to aspirin, heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), or clopidogrel
  • (Plavix), or sensitivity to contrast media, which cannot be adequately pre-medicated.
  • For TAVI arm Native aortic annulus size < 18mm or 25mm as measured by echocardiogram.
  • Subject was offered surgery but refused surgery.
  • Recent (within 6 months) cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack.
  • Renal insufficiency (creatinine > 3.0mg/dL) and/or end stage renal disease requiring chronic
  • dialysis.
  • Life expectancy < 12 months due to non-cardiac co-morbid conditions.
  • For TAVI group significant abdominal or thoracic aorta disease, including aneurysm (defined as maximal luminal diameter 5 cm or greater), marked tortuosity, aortic arch atheroma, narrowing of the abdominal aorta with particular regard for calcification and surface irregularities, or severe "unfolding" and tortuosity of the thoracic aorta. This criteria were applicable for transfemoral patients only.
  • For TAVI group Iliofemoral vessel characteristics that would preclude safe placement of 14F or 18F introducer
  • For TAVI arm sheath such as severe calcification, severe tortuosity or vessels size diameter < 7 mm for 22F
  • Active bacterial endocarditis or other active infections.
  • For TAVI arm bulky calcified aortic valve leaflets in close proximity to coronary ostia.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Retrospective

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation; Patients with aortic-valve stenosis at risk to severe valve obstruction who received TAVI with or without CABG or PCI. Individuals were adequately treated per applicable standards, including for coronary artery disease, LV dysfunction, aortic valve stenosis, and heart failure. Patients enrolled in the studies were NYHA functional class II, III, or outpatient NYHA IV.	Device: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation; Patients who are deemed receive TAVI first underwent evaluation of their peripheral arteries before the procedure, in order to separate those eligible for transfemoral placement (TFP) from those who would require transapical placement. Technological advances achieved in the new platforms for the treatment of SHD have allowed the use of reduced size catheters and sheaths in the new armamentarium, favoring the TFP technique. The transcatheter valve (TV) is positioned at the level of the native aortic valve during the final step of valve replacement, when the balloon is inflated within the native valve during a brief period of rapid ventricular pacing. The delivery system i traverses the aorta retrograde over a guidewire from its point of insertion in the femoral artery during the use of TFP. Before balloon inflation, the valve and balloon are collapsed on the catheter and fit within the sheath. After balloon inflation, the calcified native valve is replaced by the expanded TV; Other Names: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Repacement; Procedure: Bioprothesis; The bioprosthesis is implanted using the SAVR procedure during median sternotomy in extracorporeal circulation. Minimally invasive procedures using a thoracotomy approach and peripheral cannulation have found widespread use.; Other Names: SAVR; Procedure: Sutureless; The sutureless is implanted using the SAVR procedure during median sternotomy in extracorporeal circulation. Minimally invasive procedures using a thoracotomy approach and peripheral cannulation have found widespread use.; Other Names: SAVR
Bioprosthesis; Patients with aortic-valve stenosis at risk to severe valve obstruction who undervent SAVR with the use of bioprosthesis with or without CABG or PCI. Individuals were adequately treated per applicable standards, including for coronary artery disease, LV dysfunction, aortic valve stenosis, and heart failure. Patients enrolled in the studies were NYHA functional class II, III, or outpatient NYHA IV.	Device: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation; Patients who are deemed receive TAVI first underwent evaluation of their peripheral arteries before the procedure, in order to separate those eligible for transfemoral placement (TFP) from those who would require transapical placement. Technological advances achieved in the new platforms for the treatment of SHD have allowed the use of reduced size catheters and sheaths in the new armamentarium, favoring the TFP technique. The transcatheter valve (TV) is positioned at the level of the native aortic valve during the final step of valve replacement, when the balloon is inflated within the native valve during a brief period of rapid ventricular pacing. The delivery system i traverses the aorta retrograde over a guidewire from its point of insertion in the femoral artery during the use of TFP. Before balloon inflation, the valve and balloon are collapsed on the catheter and fit within the sheath. After balloon inflation, the calcified native valve is replaced by the expanded TV; Other Names: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Repacement; Procedure: Bioprothesis; The bioprosthesis is implanted using the SAVR procedure during median sternotomy in extracorporeal circulation. Minimally invasive procedures using a thoracotomy approach and peripheral cannulation have found widespread use.; Other Names: SAVR; Procedure: Sutureless; The sutureless is implanted using the SAVR procedure during median sternotomy in extracorporeal circulation. Minimally invasive procedures using a thoracotomy approach and peripheral cannulation have found widespread use.; Other Names: SAVR
Sutureless; Patients with aortic-valve stenosis at risk to severe valve obstruction who were managed by mean of SAVR with the use of sutureless with or without CABG or PCI. Individuals were adequately treated per applicable standards, including for coronary artery disease, LV dysfunction, aortic valve stenosis, and heart failure. Patients enrolled in the studies were NYHA functional class II, III, or outpatient NYHA IV.	Device: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation; Patients who are deemed receive TAVI first underwent evaluation of their peripheral arteries before the procedure, in order to separate those eligible for transfemoral placement (TFP) from those who would require transapical placement. Technological advances achieved in the new platforms for the treatment of SHD have allowed the use of reduced size catheters and sheaths in the new armamentarium, favoring the TFP technique. The transcatheter valve (TV) is positioned at the level of the native aortic valve during the final step of valve replacement, when the balloon is inflated within the native valve during a brief period of rapid ventricular pacing. The delivery system i traverses the aorta retrograde over a guidewire from its point of insertion in the femoral artery during the use of TFP. Before balloon inflation, the valve and balloon are collapsed on the catheter and fit within the sheath. After balloon inflation, the calcified native valve is replaced by the expanded TV; Other Names: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Repacement; Procedure: Bioprothesis; The bioprosthesis is implanted using the SAVR procedure during median sternotomy in extracorporeal circulation. Minimally invasive procedures using a thoracotomy approach and peripheral cannulation have found widespread use.; Other Names: SAVR; Procedure: Sutureless; The sutureless is implanted using the SAVR procedure during median sternotomy in extracorporeal circulation. Minimally invasive procedures using a thoracotomy approach and peripheral cannulation have found widespread use.; Other Names: SAVR

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Treatment failure	The primary end point of the study is the degree of treatment failure as assessed by death, recurrent aortic valve regurgitation and reoperation	5 years
Hospitalizations for Heart Failure (HF)	The secondary endpoint of the study is the evaluation of hospedalization rates for heart failure valve due to structural/ non structural valve deterioration, thromboembolism and recurrent endocarditis	5 yeras

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overall Mortality	The secondary endpoint of the study is the evaluation of overall mortality	5 years
Cardiac Death	The secondary endpoint of the study is the evaluation of cardiac death	5 years
Non Cardiac Death	The secondary endpoint of the study is the evaluation of non cardiac death	5 years
Major Adverse Cardiac or Cerebrovascular Events (MACCE)	Composite of major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (rate of death, stroke, subsequent mitral valve surgery, hospitalization for heart failure, or an increase in New York Heart Association class higher than one), serious adverse events, recurrent aortic regurgitation, quality of life, and rehospitalization	5 years
Echocardiographic Parameter Changes (LVEF)	Changes from baseline parameters including left ventricular ejection fraction	5 years
Echocardiographic Parameter Changes ( AVR recurrence)	Recurrent moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation after intervention	5 years
Echocardiographic Parameter Changes (LVEDD/LVEDV)	Changes from baseline Left Ventricular End Diastolic Diameter or Volume	5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centre Cardiologique du Nord
• Collaborators: Universita degli Studi di Genova; Henri Mondor University Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Francesco Nappi, Cardiac Surgery Centre Cardiologique du Nord de Saint-Denis, Paris, France

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Nappi F, Schoell T, Avtaar Singh SS, Nassif A, Ellouze O, Nejjari M, Digne F, Stratief V, Dreyfus J, Spadaccio C. Measuring Stress on a Third-Generation Balloon-Expandable Aortic Valve During Expansion. J Vis Exp. 2025 Jul 11;(221). doi: 10.3791/67455.
• Nappi F, Bourgois C, Nenna A, Salsano A, Schoell T, El-Dean Z, Fiore A, Spadaccio C. Study protocol for an internahaational prospective non-randomised trial evaluating the long-term outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement for aortic-valve stenosis in patients at risk to severe valve obstruction: the TAVISAR trial. BMJ Open. 2025 May 24;15(5):e101417. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101417.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 19, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 19, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): March 2, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 16, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Prosthesis Failure; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Thoracic Surgical Procedures; Prosthesis Implantation; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Wound Closure Techniques; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement; Sutureless Surgical Procedures
• Other Study ID Numbers: CN-22-25

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No