Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: technique, complications and perspectives

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the preferred treatment option for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who are inoperable or at high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. TAVI has shown a clear mortality benefit compared to conservative treatment in inoperable patients, and is at least non-inferior to surgical aortic valve replacement in high-risk operable patients. Through improvements in the field of imaging, refinement in valve technologies, increasing operator and team experience and continuous valuable research, TAVI has developed rapidly in the past years and is expected to further boost in the near future. In this review, we discuss the technical and procedural aspects of TAVI, the acute and late outcomes, and highlight the current expectations and potential future development of this rapidly evolving technology.