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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Full-root Aortic Valve Replacement by Stentless Aortic Xenografts in Patients with Small Aortic Roots
Published on: May 21, 2017
[Epidemiology of stroke and cerebral protection in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement]
Luca Testa1, Gaetano Pero1, Mario Bollati1
1Dipartimento di Cardiologia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Donato, San Donato Milanese (MI).
Abstract:
The introduction into clinical practice of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has led to a significant change in the therapeutic paradigm for patients with valvular aortic stenosis. However, in parallel with the benefits obtained in prognosis and quality of life, an inherent risk of major cerebral thromboembolic events has been observed. In different studies this risk has been estimated between 2% and 6%. In order to reduce the incidence of cerebrovascular accidents during TAVI, several brain protection systems have been developed but, to date, none has obtained sufficient clinical evidence to be implemented on a large scale, and they are therefore used only in selected cases. Furthermore, periprocedural drug therapy and follow-up are still the subject of extensive discussion in the scientific community. This paper reviews the topic of stroke prevention in patients undergoing TAVI for both the periprocedural and postprocedural aspects.
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