Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Young, Low-Risk Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is approved for all patient risk profiles and is an option for all patients irrespective of age. However, patients enrolled in the low- and intermediate-risk trials were in their 70s, and those in the high-risk trials were in their 80s. TAVR has never been systematically tested in young (<65 years), low-risk patients. Unanswered questions remain, including the safety and effectiveness of TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves; future coronary access; durability of transcatheter heart valves; technical considerations for surgical transcatheter heart valve explantation; management of concomitant conditions such as aortopathy, mitral valve disease, and coronary artery disease; and the safety and feasibility of future TAVR-in-TAVR. The authors predict that balancing these questions with patients' clear preference for less invasive treatment will become common. In this paper, the authors consider each of these questions and discuss risks and benefits of theoretical treatment strategies in the lifetime management of young patients with severe aortic stenosis.
Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr. Waksman is an advisory board member for Amgen, Boston Scientific, Cardioset, Cardiovascular Systems, Medtronic, Philips, and Pi-Cardia; is a consultant for Amgen, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, Cardioset, Cardiovascular Systems, Medtronic, Philips, and Pi-Cardia; has received grant support from AstraZeneca, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, and Chiesi; is on the Speakers Bureau for AstraZeneca and Chiesi; and is an investor in MedAlliance. Dr. Rogers is an advisory board member for Medtronic; is a consultant and proctor for Edwards Lifesciences and Medtronic; and holds equity interest in Transmural Systems. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.
(Copyright © 2021 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)