Harald H. Quick1,2, Philipp Kahlert3,
Holger Eggebrecht3, Gernot M. Kaiser4, Nina Parohl2,
Juliane Albert2, Lena Schfer2, Ian McDougall5,
Brad Decker5, Raimund Erbel3, Mark E. Ladd2
1Institute of Medical
Physics, University of Erlangen-Nrnberg, Erlangen, Germany; 2Department
of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany; 3Department
of Cardiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany; 4Department
of Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany; 5Evasc
Medical Systems, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Transcatheter, transarterial aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is rapidly emerging as a promising new treatment option for patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. In this study, the MR imaging characteristics of a commercially available TAVI prosthesis were systematically investigated in vitro and its delivery catheter was subsequently modified towards MR-compatibility. Featuring the modified MR compatible delivery catheter, real-time MR guided TAVI has been successfully performed in vivo in 6/8 swine. MR imaging provided excellent pre-interventional anatomic and functional evaluation of the native aortic valve, precise real-time instrument guidance, and finally detailed post-interventional evaluation of therapeutic success.