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.

Thumbnail

Underweight TAVR patients face higher mortality risk—obesity makes no significant impact

Reviewing data from more than 6,000 patients, researchers found little evidence of the "obesity paradox" observed elsewhere. Underweight TAVR patients, however, may face some significant long-term risks.

Meril Life Sciences, an India-based medical device company founded in 2006, developed the Myval TAVR valve

Myval TAVR valve non-inferior to Sapien 3 after 1 year—pacemaker implants the biggest difference

India-based Meril Life Sciences has been manufacturing its Myval transcatheter heart valves for years, but the technology has not yet gained FDA approval. This latest head-to-head comparison included data from more than 1,000 TAVR patients.

Medtronic Evolut FX TAVR valve

Oversizing reduces PVL when implanting Medtronic’s newer self-expanding TAVR valves

Paravalvular leak has been shown to impact patient outcomes after TAVR. Higher degrees of valve oversizing, however, can reduce the risk of post-treatment PVL without increasing the odds of adverse outcomes.

Edwards Lifesciences INSPIRIS RESILIA Aortic Valve

Resilia tissue developed by Edwards Lifesciences linked to long-term benefits

Researchers tracked nearly 1,000 SAVR patients, presenting eight-year data at the Heart Valve Society’s annual meeting in Cairo, Egypt. 

Solo Pace Incorporated SoloPace Control System

Cardiologist-founded startup announces FDA clearance, first uses of new TAVR pacing system

“The device takes variability out of the procedure by giving the operator full control while automating ramp-up and back-up algorithms," according to a clinician who used the new technology. "The TAVR procedure is simplified, reducing physician and staff workload."

cardiologist viewing heart data

Death after 1 year more common for real-world low-risk TAVR patients than those treated in clinical trials

Real-world patients were still associated with "excellent" outcomes, but it is important for cardiologists and patients alike to know as much as possible about the odds of survival following treatment. 

A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1]

Why surgery, not TAVR, remains the best treatment for some AS patients

TAVR is being used in more patients to treat severe aortic stenosis. However, according to a new commentary piece, SAVR is still the smartest treatment option for certain populations, including younger patients with bicuspid aortic valves.

Raj Makkar, MD, director, interventional cardiology, director, Interventional Cardiology Research Program and professor of medicine, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Hospital, presented the late-breaking Align-AR clinical trial at ACC 2025 on the first 500 patients treated for aortic regurgitation using the Jena Valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device.

First 500 patients in Align-AR trial using TAVR for pure aortic regurgitation show strong outcomes

Raj Makkar, MD, Cedars-Sinai, explains the late-breaking data from the Align-AR trial on the first 500 patients treated for aortic regurgitation using the Jena Valve TAVR device.