OBJECTIVES: TAVR is a validated technology for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis that has been available in South America since 2008. Reports on the clinical outcomes of this procedure in a real-life setting in Argentina are scarce. We conducted a meta-analysis of observational data including non-clinical variables.

METHODS: a systematic review of published papers and abstracts (presented in regional and national scientific sessions) of unicentric TAVR cohorts from Argentina between 2008 to 2018 was conducted. Two independent researcher teams extract data, discrepancies were solved by consensus. All outcomes were assessed during hospitalization and at 30 days. We ran random-effects models by means of R package “meta” (Schwarzer, 2007), estimating heterogeneity with Cochrane’s Q and I² statistics.

RESULTS: Twelve cohorts pooling 774 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The most frequently implanted device was CoreValve. Procedure success was 97% (95CI 91.25%-99%; I² 0%) as reported by the authors. In-hospital complications were: moderate or severe aortic regurgitation 21.1% (95CI 12.6%-33.2%; I² 54.5%), mortality 6.1% (95CI 4.3%-8.5%; I² 0%), stroke 4.5% (95CI 2.5%-7.8%; I² 0%), permanent pacemaker implantation 20.9% (95CI 13.2%-31.8%; I² 79.2%). At 30-days mortality was 9.7% (95CI 6.9%-13.4%; I² 22.7%). Meta-regression with center-level variables revealed that 30-day mortality was higher in public funded hospitals but was not related to geographic location, number of beds, residence programs or university affiliation.

CONCLUSIONS: this is the first meta-analysis about TAVR performance in a real-life setting in Argentina. Overall results are better than those reported for the region but worse than those reported for Europe or USA.