Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Outlook

Since the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure was performed for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) in 2002, its use has grown throughout the world at a startling pace. The popularity of the procedure is directly related to its ability to improve symptoms and survival, its attractiveness to patients, and faster recovery. In addition, more than 20 years after its appearance, TAVR is still a rapidly evolving field, with ongoing advances and refinements in technology and procedural technique. Better devices and new approaches are helping to make the procedure a good option for more people.

Researchers continue to expand the use of TAVR to more and more patients. As an example, in one recent study, TAVR was used to treat a group of patients who had previously undergone aortic valve surgery but whose surgically implanted valves had failed to function properly, so-called “valve-in-valve” procedures. The results showed that the outcomes in this group are very similar to those seen in “regular” TAVR patients (where the TAVR valve is implanted into a native aortic valve) and support the use of TAVR as the treatment of choice in these patients.