European experience and perspectives on transcatheter aortic valve replacement

It could be argued that the European experience with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been central to the success of this novel technology. After all, Europe provided the birthplace for the first clinical TAVR and allowed commercial approval of the early devices long before they were widely available elsewhere. Many of the largest registries are also European, helping to formulate contemporaneous guidelines with the backing of the influential cardiology and cardiothoracic societies. Despite the significant economic downturn that coincided with the availability of transcatheter technology, funding has been largely forthcoming and is increasing year on year. As we await the results of the randomised controlled trials examining TAVR in a lower risk cohort, the European adoption of the TAVR technology appears set to continue.