The 65-year-old male patient presented with a long medical history and many comorbidities, making surgery too risky.

How have recent FDA approvals for Edwards Lifesciences and Abbott changed patient care? Andrew Rassi, MD, answered that question—and many more—in a new interview. 

ACC.24, the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting in Atlanta, featured the latest in cardiovascular research and technologies. Representatives from Cardiovascular Business were there in person to take in the excitement. 

Howard C. Herrmann, MD, principal investigator of the SMART trial, discussed his team's research on self-expanding vs. balloon-expandable TAVR valves in patients with small annuli. 

While most TAVR-related reinterventions occurred in the first year after treatment, most SAVR-related reinterventions occurred in years two through five. The team's full analysis is available in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

TAVR is noninferior to SAVR when treating low-risk patients, according to new data presented at ACC.24. In fact, it is associated with multiple benefits over surgery.

The SMART trial included one-year data from TAVR patients randomized to receive either a self-expanding Evolut valve or a balloon-expandable Sapien 3 valve. All patients presented with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and a small aortic annulus. A whopping 87% of participants were women. 

Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement is still linked to certain risks, researchers noted, but new data confirm it is a safe, effective treatment option for patients with severe PR.