Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Reasonable Alternative to High-Risk Surgery?

TAVI proves noninferior to surgical valve replacement in regard to short-term efficacy, although safety concerns linger.

According to the results of the manufacturer-sponsored PARTNER trial, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) significantly improves 1-year outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement (JW Cardiol Sep 22 2010). Now, the PARTNER investigators report their findings in 669 high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (mean age, 84; mean surgical risk score, 12%) who were candidates for surgery and were randomized to undergo either TAVI or surgical aortic valve replacement.

The primary endpoint, all-cause death at 1 year, occurred in 24.2% of the TAVI group and in 26.8% of the surgical group (P=0.44). Although significantly more TAVI patients than surgical patients had sym…

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Reasonable Alternative to High-Risk Surgery?

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Reviewing Author