Bioprosthetic Valve Dysfunction Less Common in TAVR vs. Surgery at 5 years
In the first analysis to validate observed clinical outcomes, two trials compared transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). Valve dysfunction was found to be less common after five years in TAVR. Long-term performance is a critical consideration in patients who undergo TAVR, especially when they are younger and lower risk. These promising results were driven by lower rates of valve deterioration and prothesis-patient mismatch.
Sadly, the authors fail to point out that a large number of surgical valves used in these trials ( left to surgeon discretion) have been proven to have poor durability ( epic and trifecta). The same TAVI valves compared to Hancock, magna, Avalus or inspiris would be significantly inferior.