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.

TAVR specialists come together to explore new data, patient selection and much more
Care teams have a lot to consider when choosing the right treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Two cardiologists and a veteran cardiothoracic surgeon are taking part in a new webinar focused on that very topic.
Heart surgeons perform world’s first robotic TAVR explant and aortic valve replacement
The patient, 67, presented with a failing TAVR valve and a leaky mitral valve. She had undergone TAVR four years prior, but premature structural valve degeneration made a full replacement necessary. Surgeons ultimately removed the TAVR valve in addition to replacing her aortic and mitral valves—all with the help of advanced robotics.
Real-world data favor SAVR over TAVR when younger patients need aortic valve replacement
Researchers in Italy tracked data from more than 7,000 patients who underwent AVR between the ages of 65 and 80. TAVR was associated with a significantly higher long-term risk of mortality.
Heart patients benefit when cardiologists follow a standardized TAVR protocol
Using a standardized approach, including the cusp overlap technique, is associated with improved patient outcomes when implanting Medtronic's self-expanding TAVR valves. Researchers tracked data from more than 600 patients treated all over the world, presenting their findings in JSCAI.
How anticoagulants may impact a patient’s risk of gastrointestinal bleeding after TAVR
Researchers tracked the rates of major gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with AFib randomized to receive edoxaban or a vitamin K antagonist after a successful TAVR procedure.

Using the Sentinel cerebral protection device during valve-in-valve TAVR is associated with significant clinical improvements.

Cerebral protection devices during valve-in-valve TAVR: Cleveland Clinic cardiologists identify key benefits

Cerebral protection devices, designed to limit the risk of stroke during transcatheter aortic valve replacement, may be especially helpful when patients undergo valve-in-valve TAVR.

Lawsuit resolved after cardiologist alleged he was fired over TAVR safety concerns

The veteran cardiologist had been worried that cerebral protection devices were only being used to treat TAVR patients with specific insurance plans. The lawsuit has now been resolved to the “mutual satisfaction” of both parties.

Alain Cribier, MD, a veteran interventional cardiologist known for performing the very first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), died on Feb. 16. He was 79 years old.

Cardiology pioneer, known for performing world’s first TAVR, remembered as a ‘true visionary’

Alain Cribier, MD, a veteran interventional cardiologist out of France, died at the age of 79. The procedure he helped put on the map is arguably cardiology's most significant breakthrough in the last several decades.

Video of Patricia Keegan, NP, Emory, explains value of the ACC TVT NCDR registry for TAVR and why it is important from both a quality monitoring standpoint and for attracting patients to your program.

Data registries have been a huge success for U.S. structural heart programs

ACC/STS National Cardiovascular Data Registry metrics reporting for TAVR is important for marketing and care quality, explains Patricia Keegan, NP, with the Emory Heart and Vascular Center.

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare

Anticoagulants after TAVR: 5-year survival data favor DOACs over VKAs

However, that one finding does not tell the whole story. Researchers also found that DOACs may increase a TAVR patient's risk of a disabling stroke.

AI cardiology heart artificial intelligence deep learning

AI could be a game-changer for TAVR, but cardiologists remain ‘irreplaceable’

The rise of TAVR as a go-to treatment option for many AS patients has been one of the biggest stories in cardiology for several years now. How will advanced AI models impact this trend going forward?

doctor examines patient data on their tablet

TAVR vs. SAVR after 10 years: Similar safety risks, but researchers uncover several key differences

TAVR continues to gain momentum as a go-to treatment option for severe AS, making it more important than ever to investigate long-term outcomes. This latest analysis, published in European Heart Journal, focused on 280 patients randomized to undergo either transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement.

SAVR in the TAVR era: Volumes are down, but it remains the go-to choice for certain patient populations

Annual SAVR volumes in the United States decreased by a whopping 44.5% from 2012 to 2022. However, heart teams across the country seem to agree that surgery is a safer, more effective treatment option than TAVR when patients present with bicuspid aortic valves.

TAVR

TAVR specialists come together to explore new data, patient selection and much more

Heart surgeons perform world’s first robotic TAVR explant and aortic valve replacement

Real-world data favor SAVR over TAVR when younger patients need aortic valve replacement

Heart patients benefit when cardiologists follow a standardized TAVR protocol

How anticoagulants may impact a patient’s risk of gastrointestinal bleeding after TAVR