Beyond PARTNER: appraising the evolving trends and outcomes in transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the preferred treatment in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis deemed to be at prohibitive or high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. With evolving technology, improving practices and patient selection, outcomes in TAVR have improved. In the not so distant future, TAVR may become an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement even for patients who are not at high risk for open surgery. However, issues such as stroke, paravalvular leak and pacemaker need remain, and the unknown limitations of TAVR, including durability and undefined options for reintervention for prosthesis dysfunction, must be addressed before this therapy can be extended to younger, lower risk patients.