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.