Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the mainstay of therapy for severe Symptomatic aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) Not too long ago, this miraculous treatment, i.e. replacing the aortic valve without cutting the chest open, was reserved for patients who had high or prohibitive risk of surgery. Over the past few years however, multiple clinical trials showed that TAVR is comparable and at times superior to surgery. As such, currently we offer this novel technique to majority of patients wait severe aortic stenosis.
Are these valves however as durable as surgically placed valves? The short answer is “Yes”.
As we gain more long-term experience with TAVR, we will know more but as of now, multiple studies have shown that through 8 to 10 years, TAVR valves are comparable (or even superior) to the surgical valves.
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