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.

Hydra TAVR valve gains key approval as global reach continues to grow
The self-expanding device is now available in more than 20 countries and received CE mark approval back in 2020. However, it has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.
SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves
BAV patients are often excluded from TAVR trials, creating uncertainty about the best way to treat that population when aortic valve replacement is required. To learn more, researchers tracked CMS data from 2018 to 2022, presenting their findings in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks
While the technology and techniques associated with TAVR have advanced over the years, treating patients who present with baseline atrial fibrillation is still associated with certain risks.
Years of progress have made TAVR more effective when treating concomitant mitral stenosis
Newer balloon-expandable TAVR valves are associated with much better outcomes for patients presenting with both severe AS and severe MS than older models.
TAVR/PCI bests SAVR/CABG when treating severe AS and complex CAD
Percutaneous treatment was linked to improved survival and fewer adverse events than surgery when patients presented with both symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and complex coronary artery disease.

Patient access to TAVR centers: 3 key takeaways from a new study

Do patients in the United States have sufficient access to TAVR centers?

June 10, 2020

Cardiologist sets sights on improving TAVR outcomes

A new study at the University of Cincinnati aims to find out why some TAVR patients experience clotting issues that can lead to substantial side effects.

June 4, 2020

Conscious sedation associated with better TAVR outcomes than general anesthesia

The use of conscious sedation during transcatheter aortic valve replacement is associated with better patient outcomes, including a decrease in mortality, than general anesthesia.

June 3, 2020

TAVR ‘a viable option’ for patients with bicuspid valve disease

TAVR is a safe, effective treatment for patients with bicuspid valves, according to research published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

May 28, 2020

New Data Underscore Importance of Looking for HCM Before Scheduling TAVR

Reported in 2018 by anesthesiologists at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, the case suggested a message to TAVR operators: “Vigilance and a high degree of suspicion” are critical for avoiding the potentially severe hemodynamic consequences of HCM associated with aortic stenosis, the authors asserted (J Med Case Rep 2018;18;12[1]:372).

April 30, 2020

Study reveals similar 5-year outcomes for TAVR, SAVR

An analysis of PARTNER 2 data published in the New England Journal of Medicine Jan. 29 suggests five-year post-op outcomes are similar among heart patients who undergo either transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement.

January 30, 2020

Cardiology’s Challenge for the 2020s: Turning the Trend on Rising Mortality

The latest numbers on cardiovascular deaths put the focus on innovative ways to point the trend line down again.

November 1, 2019

TAVR linked to better long-term health status than SAVR

Patients with severe aortic stenosis who undergo TAVR enjoy a minor but significant sustained health benefit that isn’t mirrored in patients who opt for surgical AVR, according to research reported at TCT 2019 in San Francisco.

October 3, 2019

TAVR

Hydra TAVR valve gains key approval as global reach continues to grow

SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves

Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks

Years of progress have made TAVR more effective when treating concomitant mitral stenosis

TAVR/PCI bests SAVR/CABG when treating severe AS and complex CAD