Dr KK Answers: Should I refer my patient for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or opt for traditional aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery?

A randomized trial comparing TAVI and surgical AVR in patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis ha shown similar one-year survival rates.

1.    Major vascular complications were more frequent following TAVI.

2.    Major bleeding and atrial fibrillation were more common after AVR. 

Source: N Engl J Med 2011; 364:2187