Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in intermediate risk patients

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has had a major impact on both morbidity and mortality in high-risk and inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis. Robust evidence has supported widespread adoption in this patient group but uncertainty exists as to whether TAVI may also achieve clinical equipoise with surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in lower risk groups. In the industry sponsored PARTNER 2 trial, patients deemed at intermediate surgical risk (generally with an STS score between 4 and 8) were randomized …