Influence of atrial fibrillation in trans-catheter aortic valve replacement

In high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures have been found to be beneficial. Up to now TAVR has been preferably performed on elderly patients, who cannot undergo conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR). Usually, due to their advanced age, these patients suffer from atrial fibrillation (AF) and are also more predisposed to present left ventricular dysfunction. Both conditions influence short and long-term prognosis in conventional AVR surgery. We do not really know how this translates in new procedures such as TAVR. The purpose of the present paper was to review how AF could affect TAVR procedures.