Two French registries have carried out a propensity matched comparison which suggest differences between balloon-expandable valves (BEV) and self-expandable valves (SEV) in hard end points such as mortality. The only FDA approved commercially available transcatheter heart valves in the US are the BE Sapien 3 (Edwards Lifesciences) and the SE CoreValve Evolut PRO (Medtronic). Both…
AHA 2019 | GALILEO: Rivaroxaban After TAVI, Another Nice Theory that Clashes with Reality
In patients without formal indication for oral anticoagulation after successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), a treatment strategy including rivaroxaban 10 mg daily was associated with a higher risk of death or thromboembolic complications and, on top of that, a higher risk of bleeding than a conventional antiplatelet strategy. So far, we did not know whether…
AHA 2019 | RECOVERY: Early Surgery in Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis
This small randomized study heated the debate about when to intervene aortic stenosis (AS). Putting off surgical valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with asymptomatic AS and waiting for symptom onset with conservative care increased periprocedural risk and all cause cardiovascular death. This study presented by Dr Duk-Hyun Kang during AHA 2019 scientific sessions (simultaneously published…
AHA 2019 | GALILEO-4D: Rivaroxaban in the Prevention of Post TAVR Valve Thickening and Thrombosis
This sub study of the GALILEO specifically looked at valve thickening and reduced leaflet motion after TAVR documented with 4D CT. Whether anticoagulation with rivaroxaban might reduce or prevent this phenomenon remained unanswered. Patients receiving the same anticoagulation scheme than the general study’s (rivaroxaban + aspirin vs. aspirin + clopidogrel) were assessed by 4D CT…