TAVI outperforms surgery in valve performance, study finds

Patients with severe aortic stenosis who received a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using CoreValve or Evolut showed better valve performance over five years compared to traditional surgery. This finding is important for individuals at intermediate or higher risk for surgery. A study analyzed data from 5,606 patients, averaging 82 years old, who either underwent TAVI or surgery. The researchers focused on the incidence of valve dysfunction, which can lead to serious health issues, including death and hospitalizations. The results indicated that those who had TAVI experienced significantly lower rates of valve dysfunction after five years. Specifically, the risk of structural deterioration and other related issues was lower for TAVI patients compared to those who had surgery. Valve dysfunction was linked to an increased risk of death and hospital visits. Patients with dysfunction who underwent surgery faced a higher risk of mortality compared to those who received TAVI. The researchers emphasized the importance of considering the five-year performance of bioprosthetic valves when deciding on treatment for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these findings. This study was supported by Medtronic, which has connections to many of the researchers involved. Some limitations include the age of the patients and the absence of echocardiogram data in certain instances.