Transcatheter vs. Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement for Low-Risk Patients

Another trial demonstrates substantial benefit with TAVR — at least for 1-year outcomes.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has demonstrated similar short-term and intermediate-term outcomes compared with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) across the spectrum of surgical risk. As a result, TAVR carries a Class I recommendation in both U.S. and European guidelines for most older patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis. Nonetheless, concerns remain regarding the interpretation of previous trials, which were industry-funded, required use of specific TAVR valves, and allowed for concomitant coronary-artery bypass grafting in the SAVR group (which is known to increase short-term risk).

To address these issues, investigators in Germany performed a manufacturer-independent, multicenter, randomized trial (NCT0…

Reviewing Author

David J. Cohen, MD, MSc

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMedtronic; Edwards Lifesciences; Abbott Vascular; Boston Scientific; St. Francis Hospital

Speaker’s BureauBoston Scientific; ZOLL Medical

Grant/Research SupportEdwards Lifesciences; Abbott Vascular; Boston Scientific; Corvia Medical; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Phillips, Inc.; St. Paul’s Hospital; V-Wave, Inc; ZOLL Medical; CathWorks, ANCORA

Editorial BoardsJACC; American Heart Journal; EuroIntervention; JSCAI; Structural Heart Journal

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology TVT Registry (Co-Chair, Risk Model Development Committee); Cardiovascular Research Foundation (Co-Director, TCT Annual Meeting; Co-Director, New York Valves Annual Meeting)