Is TAVR warranted in low risk patients?
There are pros and cons compared with surgery
6th February 2019
By Clare Pain
Analysis of the longest follow-up data yet suggests major outcomes are similar after trans-catheter (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low-risk patients.
But secondary outcomes differ, with atrial fibrillation more common in surgical patients, while rates of post-procedural pacemaker implantation and paravalvular leaks are higher with TAVR.
The NOTION (Nordic Aortic Valve Intervention) trial randomised 145 Danish and Swedish patients with isolated severe aortic valve stenosis to TAVR and 135 to SAVR in 2009-2013. Patients were aged over 70 years, with a mean age