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.

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.

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.

An updated look at how cognitive impairment affects TAVR outcomes

The connection between cognitive impairment and postoperative delirium among TAVR patients stood out as a definite concern to the study's authors.

Severe prosthesis-patient mismatch after TAVR linked to a higher risk of death

Researchers examined data from 82,000 TAVR patients, focusing on echocardiography-defined PPM. They shared their results in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

5 key predictors of heart failure hospitalizations after TAVR

Diabetes and atrial fibrillation are just some of the factors that can increase a patient's risk of being hospitalized for heart failure within one year of undergoing a successful TAVR procedure.

Preventing AKI after TAVR may help lessen the impact of chronic kidney disease

If researchers can find ways to prevent AKI after TAVR, it could help decrease the risk of poor outcomes in more ways than one.

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