Transcatheter aortic valve replacement outcomes in Japan: Optimized CathEter vAlvular iNtervention (OCEAN) Japanese multicenter registry

Objectives: We aimed to assess real-world clinical outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in Japan. Background: Data are limited concerning procedural safety and valve performance following TAVR in Japanese. A program by an on-site proctor and procedure screening system was applied during TAVR introduction. Methods: We consecutively enrolled 1613 patients who underwent TAVR using data from the Optimized CathEter vAlvular iNtervention (OCEAN) Japanese registry, which consists of 14 centers. Baseline characteristics and procedural outcomes including combined early 30-day non-safety, and mortality rates were assessed among 4 groups, divided into quartiles (Q1-Q4). Results: Most patients were women (70.4%), elderly (84.4 ± 5.1 years), and had a median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score of 6.7(4.7–9.5). The overall 30-day mortality, combined early non-safety, and cumulative 1-year mortality rates were 1.7%, 15.1%, and 11.3%, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was not affected by center experience differences divided into quartiles (1.0%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 1.5%, p = 0.404), whereas 30-day early safety was significantly improved (19.1%, 17.9%, 14.6%, 8.9%, p < 0.001). Thirty-day mortality was 0% under transfemoral on-site proctor. Cox-regression multivariate analysis revealed that male sex, clinical frailty scale, New York Heart Association class, creatinine, albumin, hemoglobin, liver disease, and non-transfemoral approach were independent predictive factors of increased midterm mortality risk. Conclusions: Owning to the global supporting system in Japan, excellent early and midterm outcomes have been achieved to overcome the learning curve of the newly introduced TAVR procedure.