Stroke After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

This study reported about a 7% risk of stroke, which was not surprising given the patient population and the likelihood of particulate embolization when expanding a new valve within the annulus of the stenosed and calcified native valve. Nevertheless, even with this stroke risk, there was a clear mortality benefit and quality of life was improved as well. After the PARTNER 1A high-risk cohort demonstrated similar or improved outcomes relative to open surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients at high (but not inoperable) surgical risk, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved TAVR in 2011 and the procedure was rapidly adopted into clinical practice.
Source: JAMA - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research