Background: Scarce data exist on coronary events following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and no study has determined the factors associated with poorer outcomes in this setting. This study sought to determine the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and prognostic factors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events following TAVR. Methods: Multicenter cohort study including a total of 270 patients presenting an ACS after a median time of 12 (interquartile range, 5–17) months post-TAVR. Post-ACS death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and overall major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events were recorded. Results: The ACS clinical presentation consisted of non–ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) type 2 (31.9%), non–STEMI type 1 (31.5%), unstable angina (28.5%), and STEMI (8.1%). An invasive strategy was used in 163 patients (60.4%), and a percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 97 patients (35.9%). Coronary access issues were observed in 2.5% and 2.1% of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention procedures, respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate was 10.0%, and at a median follow-up of 17 (interquartile range, 5–32) months, the rates of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, and major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events were 43.0%, 4.1%, 15.2%, and 52.6%, respectively. By multivariable analysis, revascularization at ACS time was associated with a reduction of the risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.36–0.81] P =0.003), whereas STEMI increased the risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.05–4.03] P =0.036) and major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events (hazard ratio, 1.97 [95% CI, 1.08–3.57] P =0.026). Conclusions: ACS events in TAVR recipients exhibited specific characteristics (ACS presentation, low use of invasive procedures, coronary access issues) and were associated with a poor prognosis, with a very high in-hospital and late death rate. STEMI and the lack of coronary revascularization determined an increased risk. These results should inform future studies to improve both the prevention and management of ACS post-TAVR.

Aims The preferred reperfusion strategy for early ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI, defined as time from symptoms onset ≤120 min) in non-capable percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centres remains controversial. We sought to compare mortality of in situ fibrinolysis vs. PCI transfer in a real-life consecutive cohort of early STEMI. Methods and results Prospective multicentre STEMI registry (Catalonia ‘Codi IAM’ network) of all-comers in a non-capable PCI centre with symptom onset to first medical contact (FMC) <120 min. Two groups were identified: in situ fibrinolysis and transfer to a PCI-capable centre. Primary endpoint was 30-day mortality. We included 2470 patients, of whom 2227 (90.2%) and 243 (9.8%) comprised the transfer and fibrinolysis groups, respectively. In the fibrinolysis group, diagnostic and system delays were shorter (24 vs. 31 min, P < 0.001; 45 vs. 119 min, P < 0.001, respectively). Thirty-day mortality was 7.7 and 5.1% in fibrinolysis and transfer groups, respectively (P = 0.09). However, patients in the transfer group whose time FMC-device was achieved within 140 min were associated with significantly lower mortality (2.0% for FMC-device <99 min, and 4.6% for FMC-device 99–140 min; P < 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively vs. fibrinolysis). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, reperfusion with fibrinolysis was an independent 30-day mortality predictive factor (odds ratio: 1.91, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–3.50; P = 0.04), together with age and Killip–Kimball class (both P < 0.001). Conclusions In early STEMI patients assisted in non-capable PCI centres, in situ fibrinolysis had worse prognosis than patient transfer. Transfer to a PCI-capable centre seems recommended in patients with FMC-device delay <140 min.