Protection from Cerebral Embolic Events During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been a major advancement in the treatment of high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. One of the primary concerns in applying this procedure to a broader patient population is the risk of embolic stroke. Cerebral emboli have been shown to originate from atheromatous plaques within the aorta and from the degenerate stenotic aortic valve itself. Thus, there has been significant interest in embolic protection devices designed to either filter or deflect potential cerebral emboli during TAVR. Here, we review the rationale and current data for embolic protection devices used during TAVR.