Abstract 17552: Pre-Existing Right Ventricular Lead Performance After Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacements (TTVR)?

Introduction: Transcatheter tricuspid regurgitation (TTVR) is an investigational method for nonsurgical candidates with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TV). Many of these patients possess transvenous right ventricular (RV) leads, which can be a cause for TTVR. Outcomes regarding RV lead viability and functionality after TTVR have varied widely. We sought to describe the outcomes and management of RV leads after TTVR at our institution.

Hypothesis: We expect transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement to negatively impact the performance of pre-existing right ventricular leads.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational analysis of patients who received TTVR at our center independent of other clinical trials. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS BMI Software.

Results: A total of 30 patients underwent TTVR between 2021 and 2023. Nine patients had CIEDs, including one with SICD and one with transcatheter pacemaker. This resulted in 7 (23%) with an RV lead crossing the TV at the time of TTVR (3 Evoque valves, 5 S3 valves). The RV leads were connected to a pacemaker (PM) in five (71%) patients, an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) in one and a CRT-D in another. On average, the patients underwent TTVR 5 years after cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation. All patients received RV lead testing at least once after TTVR and they were followed up for a median of 7 months after TTVR. 3 patients underwent pre-emptive lead extraction, which let to four (57%) patients with “jailed” RV leads. 3 of the four patients with jailed leads had lead dysfunction requiring system revision or reprogramming - including elevated lead threshold, clinical evidence of transient loss of capture, and non-jailed atrial lead undersensing post TTVR.

Conclusions: We report a high incidence of lead malfunction due to RV jailing with TTVR and good outcomes of those undergoing preemptive extraction strategies. Approaches such as leadless systems and coronary sinus systems may be useful in this patient population.