[Transcatheter aortic valve implantation and its place in the contemporary treatment]

Symptomatic stenosis of the aortic valve has recently been an important clinical issue. On one hand the number of patients who need surgical treatment of valve failure is increasing. On the other hand their general state of health and concomitant diseases determine that they are disqualified from surgery. The trasncutaneus technique of replacement of the aortic valve is for these patients a promising alternative. Therefore TAVI procedures have been developed and the number of performed transcatheter aortic valve replacements is still increasing. Although it would appear unlikely that TAVI could replace traditional surgery in the nearest future, it remains a possible treatment option for some of the high risk patients not suitable for surgery.