Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Procedure and Outcomes

Abstract

Initially, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was only used in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and prohibitive risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. Subsequently, TAVR was extended to patients with high and intermediate surgical risk. Recently, the results of randomized trials in low-surgical-risk patients showed superiority or noninferiority of TAVR versus surgical aortic valve replacement in this population. Procedural outcomes have been improved. Long-term durability of transcatheter heart valves remains to be confirmed. This article presents the evolution and current status of TAVR, with respect to the different types of devices and procedures as well as its outcomes.

Keywords: Aortic stenosis; Interventional cardiology; Outcomes; Paravalvular regurgitation; Structural valve deterioration; Transcatheter aortic valve replacement; Transcatheter heart valve.