Many studies have tried to answer the question about whether there is a superior device in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Today, there is no evidence to support such claim, and most patients will likely find operator experience more beneficial than any device per se. However, there are certain patients with specific characteristics that might<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/09/24/considerations-for-optimal-device-selection-in-tavr/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Good Evolution of Bicuspid Valves with EVOLUTE or EVOLUTE PRO
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. TAVR has matured over time and has advanced onto low risk patients, but one of its greatest challenges continues to be bicuspid valve patients. These represent between 1% and 2% of the population and over 20% of young adults requiring surgical valve replacement (SAVR). The study looked at 27,086 patients<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/08/28/good-evolution-of-bicuspid-valves-with-evolute-or-evolute-pro/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Surgical Valve Replacement Might Soon Be History
Patients with dysfunctional biological prosthetic valves have better outcomes with TAVR vs. surgical reintervention, beyond surgical risk. This study outcomes might even call into question the age cutoff to consider a mechanical vs. a biological prosthesis at first surgery. This analysis recently published in JACC looked at the outcomes of both possible strategies to treat<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/08/26/surgical-valve-replacement-might-soon-be-history/" title="Read more" >...</a>
SAPIEN 3: Good Outcomes in Bicuspids
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Bicuspid aortic valves are found in approximately 2% of patients and represent the most frequent cause of aortic stenosis in young adults requiring valve replacement. Though TAVR has advanced significantly, this entity has not yet been included in the different randomized studies. At present, we have data from different reports,<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/08/21/sapien-3-good-outcomes-in-bicuspids/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Arrhythmias Wrongfully Linked to TAVR?
Continuous electrocardiographic monitoring pre-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) detected arrhythmic events in almost half the patients analyzed in this study (which will be published soon in JACC Interventions). A fourth of these patients needed urgent therapeutic actions before the procedure. Previous conduction disorders—particularly, right bundle branch block and chronic renal insufficiency—were linked to a higher<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/08/18/arrhythmias-wrongfully-linked-to-tavr/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Valve in Valve Presents Better Evolution than re-SARV
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Surgical aortic valve replacement with bioprosthesis has proved its benefits, but it fails after 10 to 15 years. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been shown valid, especially in high risk patients, but we still have little information and no “head to head” studies to know what is best in this<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/08/04/valve-in-valve-presents-better-evolution-than-re-sarv/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Self-Expanding Valve vs. Balloon-Expandable Valve, Randomized, Head to Head
The “arms race”among transcatheter valves has been vertiginous. By the time we received the mid- or long-term outcomes of studies focused on a given valve, we were already using its next generation in clinical practice. As a result, there is little information addressing which valve is the best. Nowadays, this “arms race” has reached a<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/06/24/self-expanding-valve-vs-balloon-expandable-valve-randomized-head-to-head/" title="Read more" >...</a>
TAVR: Balloon-Expandable or Self-Expanding Valves, Which Is the Answer?
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has shown benefit and is currently moving towards low-risk patients, as well as bicuspid aortic valves and (to a lower extent) aortic regurgitation. However, we must ponder on which valve should be used on each patient: balloon-expandable (BE) or self-expanding (SE) valve? They represent different technologies<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/06/03/tavr-balloon-expandable-or-self-expanding-valves-which-is-the-answer/" title="Read more" >...</a>
The Most Read Scientific Articles of May in Interventional Cardiology
01- Management of Infarction During the COVID-19 Pandemic Patients with cardiovascular disease infected with COVID-19 are at a particular risk for morbidity and mortality. In any case, it should be noted that most patients requiring cardiovascular care due to ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, or structural heart disease are not infected. Read more HERE<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/06/03/the-most-read-scientific-articles-of-may-in-interventional-cardiology/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Should We Finalize TAVR with Atrial Pacing in Some Patients?
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. The benefits of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are undoubtedly clear, but implantation is performed near the atrioventricular (AV) node, the bundle of His, and the left bundle branch. Consequently, permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) after TAVR or surgical aortic valve replacement becomes necessary. While researchers have recently developed strategies to reduce<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2020/06/01/should-we-finalize-tavr-with-atrial-pacing-in-some-patients/" title="Read more" >...</a>