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.

Boston Scientific Acurate neo2 TAVR

Boston Scientific's new TAVR system associated with high success rate, low mortality rate

The new-look device gained CE mark approval in Europe in 2020, but it has not been approved yet in the United States.

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Socioeconomic status and mental health make a big impact on AVR outcomes

Nontraditional risk factors such as dementia, PTSD, bipolar disorder and low socioeconomic status are all important to consider when patients are candidates for aortic valve replacement. 

Medtronic launches Evolut FX TAVR system aortic stenosis

Medtronic’s newest self-expanding TAVR system linked to improved performance

Medtronic presented the real-world data at the PCR London Valves 2022 conference. The company's Evolut FX TAVR system gained FDA approval back in August 2021. 

Brian Lindman, MD, MSCI, medical director of the Structural Heart and Valve Center and an associate professor of medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains the new American Heart Association (AHA) Target Aortic Stenosis (AS) program. It was announced at the AHA 2022 meeting and is designed to help screen with echo to find more AS patients.

VIDEO: AHA says aortic stenosis is undertreated and underdiagnosed

Brian Lindman, MD, medical director of the Structural Heart and Valve Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains the new American Heart Association (AHA) Target Aortic Stenosis (AS) program to screen with echo to find more AS patients. 

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

Predictors of 1-year mortality after TAVR are significantly different among men and women

Atrial fibrillation and peripheral artery disease, for example, are both predictors of mortality among women, but not men. 

A team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in Hong Kong has performed the first successful undermining iatrogenic coronary obstruction with radiofrequency needle procedure—or UNICORN for short—on a high-risk valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patient. The group wrote about their experience in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal launched and distributed by the American Heart Association.

Cardiologists make history, perform first UNICORN procedure during valve-in-valve TAVR

BASILICA was considered for the 67-year-old female patient, but UNICORN was seen as an overall better option. The full case study was published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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Albuminuria linked to worse TAVR outcomes, including a higher risk of death

“Because patients with aortic stenosis are old and commonly have chronic kidney disease, it is essential to evaluate the renal function before TAVR," the study's authors wrote. “Albuminuria indicates glomerular injury and is an important factor in the assessment of renal function or diagnosis of chronic kidney disease."

transcarotid TAVR TAVI transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Transcarotid TAVR a safe alternative when femoral access is not an option

The conventional transfemoral approach is not always possible during TAVR procedures, leaving care teams with an important decision to make.