TAVR or SAVR? Cardiologists and heart surgeons highlight the care that goes into each decision
Three of the leading U.S. cardiovascular health societies have joined forces for a new statement about the importance of multidisciplinary, patient-centered decision-making when managing patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), American College of Cardiology (ACC) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) collaborated on the joint statement, calling it a response to “recent media coverage” about transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The primary focus of the statement appears to a feature story published by The Wall Street Journal on April 23 that included interviews with patients who experienced significant complications after undergoing TAVR.
The joint statement highlights the fact that multidisciplinary heart teams are at the center of every treatment decision for patients who present with severe AS and require an aortic valve replacement. This has been the case for many years now, but coverage from The Wall Street Journal and other mainstream news outlets is sure to grab the attention of people unfamiliar with how such treatment decisions are made.
This statement serves as a fresh reminder for the general public that cardiologists and cardiac surgeons do not take these decisions lightly. The cardiology groups said years of hard work and dedication have gone into developing the framework that is now in place.
“As societies representing key aspects of cardiovascular care, we write together to affirm that the multidisciplinary heart team approach remains the standard guiding every decision in cardiovascular care, especially in addressing aortic valve disease,” the groups wrote.
The groups also emphasized that heart teams use long-term registry data to keep a close eye on the safety and effectiveness of TAVR, SAVR and other critical heart procedures. In addition, they wrote, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons always prioritize shared decision-making with their patients. By reviewing these long-term data and interacting with patients, specialists can feel confident when choosing between TAVR and SAVR that they are making the right decision for that specific patient.
“ACC, SCAI, and STS strongly endorse this framework that ensures treatment decisions are patient-centered and tailored to address individual circumstances such as age, severity of illness, and complicating risk factors,” the groups wrote. “We also remain committed to the ongoing generation of evidence on the safety and efficacy of TAVR, including its expanded use across additional indications.”
Click here to read the joint statement in full. It was signed by SCAI President J. Dawn Abbott, MD; ACC President Roxana Mehran, MD; and STS President Vinay Badhwar, MD.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.