Transapical versus transfemoral aortic valve implantation

Since transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was pioneered by Alain Cribier in 2002, it has been accepted as an alternative treatment for aortic stenosis. The PARTNER US trial (Cohort B) has demonstrated its superiority compared with medical treatment, in patients thought unsuitable for aortic valve replacement (AVR)1. Cohort A results have demonstrated how TAVI compares to AVR in patients seen at high risk for open heart surgery.

Currently most procedures are performed using a retrograde, transfemoral (TF), or antegrade, transapical (TA), approach. In contrast to TF, where balloon-expandable (Edwards SAPIEN™) and self-expandable (CoreValve™) bioprostheses are commercially available in Europe, TA ...