Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a new standard of care

Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular lesion requiring intervention and with an ageing population, its burden is likely to increase. Increasing comorbidity and a desire for less invasive treatment strategies has facilitated the expansion of percutaneous aortic valve therapies. Robust clinical trial data are now available to support the role of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients of prohibitive, high and now intermediate surgical risk. The introduction of a Medicare Benefits Schedule reimbursement is likely to see TAVI use grow exponentially in Australia over the next 5 years. Clinical trials evaluating low risk patients may be the final frontier to see TAVI become the standard of care for most patients with severe aortic stenosis.