Clinical impact of carotid stenosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation

In patients undergoing TAVI, carotid stenosis was frequently observed (18.8%; about one !fth of patients with carotid stenosis >50%) • Unilateral carotid stenosis >70% did not show a signi!cant association with early stroke/transient ischaemic attack rate. However, in the cohort of patients with bilateral carotid stenosis >70%, a signi!cant association with early stroke/ transient ischaemic attack rates was observed. • Patients undergoing TAVI presenting bilateral carotid stenosis >70% deserve special attention for the increased risk of stroke. • In our series, carotid intervention (endarterectomy or stenting) before TAVI provided no evidence for the risk control of stroke/transient ischaemic attack in patients undergoing TAVI.