Transcatheter aortic valve update 2013

Cumulative evidence has demonstrated that transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) constitutes an effective treatment option for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and a high operative risk. New valve designs and TAVI-enabling devices have simplified the procedure, reduced the risk of complications, and broadened the applications of this treatment. The global adoption of TAVI allows us to appreciate the advantages, potentialities and caveats of the technology, identify patients who would benefit from TAVI and stratify more accurately the risk of complications. The focus of this article is to discuss the advances in this field, present the current evidence, and highlight the developments and strategies proposed to address the limitations of TAVI treatment.