CardioExchange Archive

June 5th, 2011

PARTNER A Results Published in NEJM

Larry Husten, PHD

Following its initial presentation at the ACC meeting in March, the results of PARTNER A have now been published online in the New England Journal of Medicine, in conjunction with a presentation at the Transcatheter Valve Therapies meeting in Vancouver. As reported previously, 699 high-risk older patients with severe aortic stenosis were randomized to either transcatheter aortic […]

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May 12th, 2011

TAVI & Stroke: More Details Surface About PARTNER A

Larry Husten, PHD

In the past year transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a possible new treatment for patients with aortic valve disease who are not surgical candidates (the PARTNER B study) and for some patients as a viable alternative to surgery (the PARTNER A study). TAVI was found to be noninferior to surgery in the […]

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April 11th, 2011

PARTNER A: An Investigator’s View

Michael Mack, M.D.

CardioExchange welcomes Dr. Michael Mack to discuss the results of the PARTNER study of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) versus surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with aortic stenosis, which were just released at the ACC meetings in New Orleans. Dr. Mack was one of the principal investigators in this and the recently published […]

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April 3rd, 2011

PARTNER A: TAVI Noninferior to Surgery, but Stroke Might Be a Problem

Larry Husten, PHD

Here are the main results of the much anticipated PARTNER A trial comparing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) versus surgery for aortic valve replacement (AVR). They were presented this morning in New Orleans at the ACC. Some 699 high-risk older patients with severe aortic stenosis were randomized to either TAVI or AVR.  The primary endpoint, all-cause […]

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April 3rd, 2011

TAVI: PARTNER or Blind Date?

Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA

Almost 700 patients with severe aortic stenosis who were considered “high risk” for conventional valve replacement (AVR) were randomized to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or AVR. In comparison to AVR, TAVI was associated with a higher incidence of stroke (5.1% vs 2.4% at one year), vascular complications (11.0% vs 3.2% at 30 days), and moderate-severe […]

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March 30th, 2011

Choosing a PARTNER for Life: A or B?

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

What is TAVI? During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a bioprosthetic valve is inserted through a catheter and implanted within the native stenotic aortic valve. The self-expanding CoreValve (Medtronic) and balloon-mounted Edwards SAPIEN (Edwards Lifesciences) valve are approved in Europe and under investigation in the U.S. for TAVI and can be implanted via the transfemoral, subclavian, or transapical route. […]

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February 23rd, 2011

High Pacemaker Insertion Rate Observed After CoreValve TAVI Implantation

Larry Husten, PHD

One-third of patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the CoreValve device required a permanent pacemaker within 30 days, according to a report published online in Circulation. Researchers in the UK examined data from 243 patients who received the CoreValve device. The incidence of LBBB was 13% prior to the procedure and 61% afterward. Patients who […]

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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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September 22nd, 2010

PARTNER Results Boost Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation

Larry Husten, PHD

Patients with aortic stenosis who are not candidates for aortic valve replacement surgery can benefit from transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI), according to results of the PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valves) trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. (The trial will also be presented at the TCT conference on Thursday.) Martin Leon and colleagues […]

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