TAVR

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a key structural heart procedure that has rapidly expanded in the decade since it was first FDA cleared. TAVR has come a paradigm shift in how many aortic stenosis patients are treated, now making up more than 50% of U.S. aortic valve replacements. It is less invasive than open heart surgery and recovery times are greatly reduced. TAVR can also be used in patients who otherwise are too high risk to undergo surgery. TAVR is referred to as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in many placed outside of the U.S. TAVR inspired the growing areas of transcatheter mitral repair or replacement and transcatheter tricuspid valve repair and replacement.

Hydra TAVR valve gains key approval as global reach continues to grow
The self-expanding device is now available in more than 20 countries and received CE mark approval back in 2020. However, it has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.
SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves
BAV patients are often excluded from TAVR trials, creating uncertainty about the best way to treat that population when aortic valve replacement is required. To learn more, researchers tracked CMS data from 2018 to 2022, presenting their findings in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks
While the technology and techniques associated with TAVR have advanced over the years, treating patients who present with baseline atrial fibrillation is still associated with certain risks.
Years of progress have made TAVR more effective when treating concomitant mitral stenosis
Newer balloon-expandable TAVR valves are associated with much better outcomes for patients presenting with both severe AS and severe MS than older models.
TAVR/PCI bests SAVR/CABG when treating severe AS and complex CAD
Percutaneous treatment was linked to improved survival and fewer adverse events than surgery when patients presented with both symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and complex coronary artery disease.

older patient with a doctor at their house

Valve-in-valve TAVR with Medtronic’s CoreValve devices still safe and effective after 5 years

Researchers tracked five-year data from more than 200 patients, sharing their findings in the American Journal of Cardiology.

January 22, 2024

weight loss scale overweight obese lose weight pounds

TAVR in patients with severe obesity: Longer hospital stays, higher costs, more health risks

The CDC defines severe obesity, or class III obesity, as any patient with a BMI of 40 or higher. TAVR among these patients is not associated with a lower survival rate, but it does lead to many more risks.

January 19, 2024

ICE guidance reduces risk of permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVR with a self-expandable valve

Heart teams can limit the risk of conduction disturbances that lead to permanent pacemaker implantation by utilizing both the cusp-overlap method and intracardiac echocardiography.

January 17, 2024

Valve-in-valve TAVR an effective tool for treating structural valve degeneration after SAVR

With heart teams performing valve-in-valve TAVR more and more, researchers wanted to take a fresh look at patient outcomes. Overall, they found, the procedure was linked to a low mortality rate and fewer permanent pacemakers than native-valve TAVR.

January 16, 2024

TAVR after mitral valve replacement linked to positive outcomes, but heart teams must plan ahead

Researchers in India performed TAVR on two relatively young patients with a preexisting mechanical mitral valve, sharing their experience in a new case report. The group highlighted the importance of planning ahead.

January 10, 2024

New expert guidelines: Start PHV evaluations with echocardiography, but other imaging modalities can provide value

New guidelines from the American Society of Echocardiography, made in collaboration with the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, represent an update of the group's original recommendations from 2009.

January 9, 2024