Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Promising Development for Patients with Few Options

Validation of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), an emerging therapeutic option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who cannot undergo valve replacement surgery (JW Cardiol Aug 18 2010), hinges on forthcoming results of clinical trials. In this first report of the industry-sponsored PARTNER trial, investigators randomized 358 patients with severe aortic stenosis (mean age, 83; 46% men) to undergo TAVI or receive standard treatment. All participants were determined (by agreement of two surgeons) not to be candidates for surgery because of high surgical risk or a coexisting condition. Mean baseline aortic valve area was 0.6 cm², and >90% of patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart failure symptoms…