CardioExchange Archive

March 10th, 2015

First Good Look at TAVR in The Real World

Larry Husten, PHD

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is one of the most important advances in cardiovascular medicine in recent years. Although it is associated with significant risks, TAVR can offer some patients a less invasive alternative to traditional aortic valve replacement surgery.  Because of early concerns about potential overuse and misuse of TAVR, many observers have been eagerly […]

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September 1st, 2014

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: September 1st

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include aortic valve stenosis, presenting the benefits of PCI to patients, and more.

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June 3rd, 2013

How Do Patients with CAD Fare After TAVR?

Sachin Goel, MD and Erica Sarah Spatz, MD, MHS

Sachin Goel discusses his research group’s literature review focusing on patients with coronary artery disease who are evaluated for — and those who undergo — transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

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February 6th, 2013

Genetic Study Identifies Strong Links to Aortic Valve Disease

Larry Husten, PHD

A genetic component is believed to play an important role in valvular heart disease, but the specific genes involved have not been identified. Now an interntional group of researchers has identified genetic variations that increase the risk for valvular calcification. In an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, members of the Cohorts for Heart and Aging […]

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March 1st, 2012

Is Age Just a Number?

Tariq Ahmad, MD, MPH and James Fang, MD

An 89-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis is referred to a cardiologist at a major academic center that offers transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). A widow for 20 years, the patient lives alone and does well with the assistance of her daughter, who lives nearby. She has two more children in the same town, as well […]

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January 31st, 2012

Guiding TAVR into Clinical Practice

Steven Bailey, MD, Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA and L. David Hillis, MD

The ACC, AATS, SCAI, and STS have issued a critical consensus document to guide the use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as it enters clinical practice in the U.S. (see also our CardioExchange news coverage here). CardioExchange Interventional Cardiology moderators Rick Lange and David Hillis posed the following questions to writing committee member Steven R Bailey, the Janey Briscoe Distinguished Professor of […]

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September 14th, 2011

Study Sheds Light on Consequences of Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Larry Husten, PHD

Although bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most frequently occurring congenital heart defect, little is known about the long-term prognosis of people with BAV. Now a study published in JAMA shows that although affected people have a low overall rate of aortic complications, their risk is nevertheless about 8 times greater than the risk of those without BAV. Hector […]

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January 12th, 2011

Maybe TAVI Is Not All It’s Cracked Up To Be

Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA and L. David Hillis, MD

The PARTNER trial of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis was among the hottest cardiology stories of 2010.  Now that the hype is receding, some are questioning whether TAVI is ready for prime time. In three letters to the Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, our colleagues point out that the […]

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September 23rd, 2010

Howdy, PARTNER!

Michael Mack, M.D., E Murat Tuzcu, MD, L. David Hillis, MD and Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA

CardioExchange welcomes Mike Mack and E. Murat Tuzcu, investigators for the PARTNER trial, an ongoing, randomized study of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe aortic stenosis at high surgical risk. The first reported findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed an impressive 20% absolute reduction in 12-month mortality with […]

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