Encouraging Long Term Results For Less Invasive Heart Valves

The publications five years ago of the two part PARTNER trial brought a major change in the treatment options available to some people with aortic valve disease, which is often an extremely serious condition with a poor prognosis. The trial demonstrated that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was a reasonable treatment option, first for patients who were not surgical candidates and then for patients who were at high risk for surgery. One important lingering concern about TAVR was whether its results would prove to be sufficiently durable. Now the final 5 year findings from the trial, published in two papers in the Lancet, provide strong reassurance regarding the durability of TAVR. (The PARTNER trial used the Sapien TAVR device from Edwards Lifesciences. Current TAVR devices are made by Edwards and Medtronic.)