Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in low-risk patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis appears to be safe at one year. In a follow-up using computerized tomography (TC), hypoattenuated leaflet thickening was observed in a minority of patients, but it did not have a long-term hemodynamic impact. It should be noted that the management strategy for<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/06/13/low-risk-tavr-trending-in-all-papers/" title="Read more" >...</a>
EuroPCR 2019 | TAVR Durability Offers Certain Guarantees at 8 and 10 Years
It has been 3 years since EuroPCR 2016 and the presentation of the first data on possible transcatheter valve degeneration, which sparked fear regarding the possibility that transcatherter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) devices might degrade earlier than expected due to the pressure put on them to introduce them into the delivery catheter. At EuroPCR 2019,<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/05/28/europcr-2019-tavr-durability-offers-certain-guarantees-at-8-and-10-years/" title="Read more" >...</a>
ACC 2019 | PARTNER 3: Low Risk TAVR vs. Surgery, Fewer Events per Year
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. TAVR has largely been shown superior or non-inferior in high or intermediate risk patients. Indeed, the development of new technologies, the more simplified procedure and the increased experience of operators and team have allowed these groups to benefit from this strategy. However, there is little evidence available on low risk<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/03/19/acc-2019-partner-3-low-risk-tavr-vs-surgery-fewer-events-per-year/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Good Outcomes for MitraClip “Off Label”
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Mitral regurgitation is the most frequent type of valve disease, accounting for >6% of patients over 65 years old. Surgery is currently the strategy of choice, but percutaneous treatment is a valid alternative. The long-term progress of symptomatic patients at high surgical risk who do not meet the formal indications for<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2019/02/01/good-outcomes-for-mitraclip-off-label/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Differences in Stroke between TAVR and SAVR in Intermediate Risk Patients
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is more and more frequent in lower risk populations that had previously been treated with surgical valve replacement (SAVR). A small difference in neurological events could have significant consequences when it comes to deciding a course of action. This study is a sub-analysis of the randomized study SURTAVI (Surgical Replacement<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/11/09/differences-in-stroke-between-tavr-and-savr-in-intermediate-risk-patients/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Are the Rates of Stroke Similar in TAVR and Surgery?
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Stroke is one of the most undesirable complications we can face and, regarding transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), major studies presented have rates of stroke of about 4%. In others, rates have been slightly higher. This meta-analysis included 5 randomized studies between 2011 and 2017: PARTNER, CoreVALVE, NOTION, PARTNER 2, and SURTAVI.<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/06/12/are-the-rates-of-stroke-similar-in-tavr-and-surgery/" title="Read more" >...</a>
EuroPCR 2018 Highlights | The Best of a Congress that Left Plenty of News
A new edition of EuroPCR has come and gone. Now is the time to make a balance and review the main presentations at one of the most important European congresses on cardiovascular interventions. Thus, we have selected the six most relevant studies presented at the event. In our opinion, you cannot afford to miss them!<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/06/07/europcr-2018-highlights-the-best-of-a-congress-that-left-plenty-of-news/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Liver Failure as a Challenge for TAVR
Although surgical risk scores do not include liver failure (LF), patients who suffer from it and undergo cardiovascular surgery present high rates of morbidity and mortality. This is due to alteration of cardiac function, increased infection susceptibility, gastrointestinal complications, and increased bleeding. As regards transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), these patients have not been included<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/05/03/liver-failure-as-a-challenge-for-tavr/" title="Read more" >...</a>
TAVR with Prior MRS: A New Challenge
The benefits of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for high-risk, prohibitive-risk (class I) or intermediate-risk (class IIa) patients have already been proven, but there is a growing population of patients with a history of myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS) who experience severe aortic stenosis. Decision-making in these cases is anything but simple, mainly due to the presence of<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/05/02/tavr-with-prior-mrs-a-new-challenge/" title="Read more" >...</a>
Morbidity and Mortality During Authorization Wait-Times for TAVR
For this Canada-based study, the increased number of patients who required a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may have come hand in hand with an equal increase in healthcare financing, so as to cover procedural costs. In spite of that, the wait-time between the formal request for authorization and the actual procedure was 3 months, and<a href="https://solaci.org/en/2018/04/21/morbidity-and-mortality-during-authorization-wait-times-for-tavr/" title="Read more" >...</a>