Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most common—and growing—cardiac conditions. In particular, the prevalence of severe AS rises markedly among elderly Americans, affecting an estimated 3.4% of Americans 75 and older.[1]
Updates about transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are always big news, but the new five-year data from the CoreValve™ US Pivotal and SURTAVI trials came as a welcome surprise to many cardiologists.
The trend to get PCI patients out of the hospital safely on the same day as their procedure has long been a goal for many health systems. WellStar Kennestone Regional Hospital, part of WellStar Health System in Atlanta, made same-day discharge for a vast majority of PCI patients a mission three years ago.
“Good harmony” is the way John P. Erwin III, MD, describes the synergy of the 2021 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease (VHD) released in August along with the ACC/AHA guidelines that rolled in December 2020.
It’s not uncommon for severe aortic stenosis to go unrecognized, and thus untreated. When the data points to the existence of low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis, a diagnosis can be even more challenging.
Just-released valvular heart disease guidelines favor transcatheter interventions for the right patient and more shared decision-making among heart teams, physicians and severe aortic stenosis patients with an eye toward types of valves and approaches, and lifetime benefits and risks.
Learn from four leading cardiologists on the movement of TAVR into this low-risk patient population, how hospitals are increasing awareness among physicians and patients and the importance of connecting patients with heart teams.
