Commentary: Transcarotid TAVR - Keeping It Simple!

McKiernan and colleagues1 have provided readers with a beautifully illustrated manuscript describing important technical aspects of performing transcarotid transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) which closely mimics our own experience with this technique.2,3,4 While the need for non-femoral access is declining, it remains relevant for the heart team to be comfortable with at least one non-thoracic, alternate access option. Like politics, alternate access decisions are made based on the local experience and composition of the heart team; while head-to-head trials comparing alternate access options such as transapical/direct aortic, transaxillary, transcaval and transcarotid have not been conducted, transcarotid access appears to be emerging as the most favorable.
Source: Operative Techniques in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Tags: Adult - Commentary Source Type: research