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.

A team in China treated 10 patients—split evenly between men and women—with the SinoCrown TAVR valve developed by Lepu Medical Technology Company. The average patient age was 77.5 years old.

New self-expanding TAVR valve shows promise

It is still early for this new-look TAVR valve, but initial findings out of China include a procedural success rate of 100% and no deaths, disabling strokes or myocardial infarctions after 30 days. Read a full analysis from the team using the device. 

Abbott has gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Navitor transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system, the company’s new self-expanding valve for high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.

Abbott receives FDA approval for new self-expanding TAVR system

The device, which gained CE mark approval in Europe in May 2021, features a new-look fabric cuff designed to keep the risk of paravalvular leak (PVL) at a minimum.

Samir Kapadia, MD, Cleveland Clinic TAVR transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Q&A: Discussing TAVR trends with cardiologist Samir Kapadia of Cleveland Clinic

What's next for TAVR? What trends should clinicians be focused on as time goes on? Kapadia shared his perspective in a new interview. 

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Why cardiologists should pay close attention to rehospitalizations after TAVR or SAVR

A new analysis in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions examined rehospitalization rates after AVR, noting that they are consistently associated with worse outcomes and a higher risk of patient mortality.

The Medtronic CoreValve Evolut and the Edwards Lifesciences Sapien 3 TAVR valves.

VIDEO: The importance of assessing TAVR valve durability

Brian Lindman, MD, discusses the tracking of TAVR devices for signs of deterioration and how to assess long-term durability.

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No antithrombotic therapy after TAVR? New research highlights potential benefits

The study, published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, focused on data from more than 3,500 TAVR patients. 

Gabler Survivor Heart Valve Specialist TAVR

Mike Gabler, a heart valve specialist with Edwards Lifesciences, wins Survivor—and donates his $1M prize

Gabler, a Texas native, has two decades of experience in the cardiology space, spending the last 11 years with Edwards Lifesciences. He has also previously worked for both Medtronic and Boston Scientific.

An updated look at the latest self-expandable and balloon-expandable TAVR devices

Researchers have completed a new analysis of the Evolut Pro and Pro+ devices from Medtronic and the Sapien 3 Ultra devices from Edwards Lifesciences, sharing the results in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.