Self-Expanding Versus Balloon-Expandable Valve: Are We at the Cusp of Delivering a Perfect Transcatheter Aortic Valve?

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a leading and dominant treatment alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for intermediate- and high-risk patients with aortic stenosis.1-5 The follow-up trials for both the core valve, as well as the balloon-expanding valve, showed similar midterm survival and stroke rates in high-risk patients following TAVR versus SAVR.6-8 With the recent results of the PARTNER 3 and EVOLUT low-risk trials, it is evident that, among patients with severe aortic stenosis with low surgical risks, the rates of composite death, stroke, and rehospitalization at 1 year were significantly lower with balloon-expandable (BE) TAVR and noninferior with self-expanding TAVR versus SAVR.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research