Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: The Canadian Experience

New data hone the criteria for evaluating a new procedure's risks and benefits.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), an emerging alternative to surgery in high-risk patients, is approved for use in Europe. Now, investigators at six Canadian centers report their pooled clinical experience implanting the Sapien transcatheter aortic valve in 339 consecutive patients via either a transfemoral (TF) or transapical (TA) approach (each used in ≈50% of procedures). The study was not industry-funded, although seven of the authors served as consultants for the valve manufacturer.

The rate of successful implantation was 93%, and procedural and 30-day mortality rates were 2% and 10%, respectively. The mean aortic pressure gradient decreased from 46 mm Hg to 10 mm Hg, and mean aortic valve area increased from 0.6 cm² to 1.…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHeart Valve Collaboratory (Scientific Committee Member, Chair of the Publications Committee)