2021 Postdoctoral Fellowship

Years funded: 2022-2024

Computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be an accurate method to diagnose leaflet thrombosis (LT) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Majority of patients diagnosed with this condition are asymptomatic without valve dysfunction or cerebrovascular events. Observational data at one-year follow-up has been conflicting but some studies have demonstrated that CT-defined LT may lead to dysfunction of the valve, repeat valve replacement and cerebrovascular events. Previous studies have been limited by short duration and incomplete follow-up.

Dr Hashrul Rashid's study will prospectively evaluate patients for LT with CT within 6 weeks following the TAVR procedure. One component of the study involves evaluating the impact of this condition on clinical outcomes and valvular function, with echocardiogram at one month and one year (annually thereafter, where possible). Another substudy will perform serial CT (one month and one year then annually where possible) to determine predictors of valve failure by quantifying the threshold of clot burden.