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.

The Medtronic CoreValve Evolut and the Edwards Lifesciences Sapien 3 TAVR valves.

Popular TAVR valves linked to comparable long-term outcomes

Second-generation TAVR valves from Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences and Boston Scientific are all associated with similar seven-year outcomes, according to a new retrospective study out of Italy. 

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Know your options: What cardiologists recommend when alternative access is required for TAVR

Transfemoral TAVR is not always a viable option. In those instances, the two most effective alternatives are transcarotid access and transcaval access, according to a new SCAI expert consensus statement.

Aakriti Gupta, MD, Cedars-Sinai, explains use of cerebral embolic protection devices in TAVR

An updated look at the use of cerebral embolic protection devices during TAVR

Cardiologist Aakriti Gupta, MD, MSc, spoke to Cardiovascular Business about the latest data and trends associated with using cerebral embolic protection devices during TAVR to lower the risk of stroke.

Thumbnail

Veterans with heart disease often receive better care through VA than they would elsewhere

Military veterans face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, making it especially important to ensure they receive high-quality care.

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

CABG, TAVR top list of most lucrative heart procedures for hospitals

Other procedures are associated with higher profits—heart transplants, for instance—but CABG and TAVR are performed much more often.

Heart cardiologists doctors surgery

Cardiologists recommend AVR for asymptomatic severe AS—TAVR and surgery both viable options

A trio of leading voices in cardiology reviewed years of data while considering their proposal. The choice between TAVR and SAVR, they added, should be made on a case-by-case basis.

FX+ Image

Physicians are leaning into supra-annular, self-expanding TAVR valves for women and small-annulus patients

Sponsored by Medtronic

"The onus is on us as cardiologists to make sure we offer the very best possible devices for our patients with the available data that we have," interventional cardiologist Anene Ukaigwe, MD, explained. 

doctorwithpatient.jpg

Women with severe aortic stenosis remain underdiagnosed, undertreated—here’s how cardiologists can make a difference

Sponsored by Medtronic

Women with cardiovascular disease are consistently underdiagnosed and undertreated compared to men, and those disparities are true for aortic stenosis as well. Women with symptomatic severe AS are up to 35% less likely than men to undergo aortic valve replacement, for example, and they often have to wait longer just to be referred for further care.

Around the web

GE HealthCare said the price of iodine contrast increased by more than 200% between 2017 to 2023. Will new Chinese tariffs drive costs even higher?

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.