Transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Abstract

Aortic stenosis is one of the most common valve pathologies found in adults. Aortic valve replacement via a sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass is the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis with very acceptable risk. However, patients with advanced age and multiple comorbidities carry significant operative risk; operative mortality as high as 25% was reported by many groups. Many of these patients are deemed nonsurgical for conventional aortic valve replacement by their cardiologists and surgeons. Novel surgical technique and valve technology offers an alternative treatment for aortic valve stenosis. Endovascular transcatheter aortic valve replacement is an emerging and promising technique, and may lower the risk in this subset of difficult patients.