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For patients with severe aortic stenosis, transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) is emerging as a less-invasive alternative to surgical valve replacement. We now have 2-year follow-up data from randomized trials that involved patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who had substantial comorbidities. Shorter-term follow-up data were reported previously (JW Cardiol Jun 8 2011 and JW Cardiol Sep 22 2010).
In one trial, 699 patients (mean age, 84) underwent either TAVR or surgery. Although 30-day all-cause mortality was slightly lower with TAVR than with surgery (3.4% vs. 6.5%), all-cause mortality at 2 years was virtually identical in the groups (34% and 35%). Strokes were slightly more common after TAVR than after surgery durin…