Health Status Benefits of Transcatheter vs Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis at Intermediate Surgical Risk

Abstract

Patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) benefit from aortic valve replacement both in terms of survival and quality of life (QOL).^1-3 While surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has long been the standard of care for treatment of AS, over the past decade, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has also been shown to be a viable treatment option for patients who are not suitable for SAVR or are at high risk for surgical complications.^4,5 With growing experience and technological evolution, TAVR has been increasingly performed in patients at lower surgical risk. Recently, the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve (PARTNER) 2 Cohort A trial demonstrated similar rates of death or disabling stroke at 2 years in patients at intermediate surgical risk treated with either SAVR or TAVR.⁶