2.1 Operative procedure
TAVI was performed under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. A temporary right ventricle pacing lead wire was inserted though the right jugular vein and used when needed. The approach to deployment of the transcatheter prosthetic valve was discussed by the cardiac team. The trans-femoral approach was considered as the initial choice. If a femoral approach was not feasible, a different approach was utilized. The type and size of the prosthetic valves used were determined according to the findings in the aortic valve complex on preoperative enhanced cardiac computed tomography. The Edwards Sapien XT and Sapien 3 (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) were used as balloon-expandable valves. The Core Valve, Evolut R, and Evolut PRO (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN) were used as self-expandable valves.