Patients who receive transcatheter pulmonary-valve replacement have comparable odds of survival and freedom from reintervention as those who undergo surgical conduit or valve replacement, a study shows.

The researchers say their results on patient outcomes after transcatheter pulmonary-valve replacement (TPVR) could help inform clinical decision-making and counselling.

Using an international registry, the US-led team analysed data from nearly 2500 patients aged 14 to 58 years (median age 20) who underwent TPVR to compare their risk of death or reintervention to those undergoing surgical procedures during an average three years’ follow-up.

A total of 95 patients died, primarily due to heart failure, which translated into an 8.9% cumulative incidence of death eight years post-TPVR.