The Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) trial showed the effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for inoperable patients and non-inferiority for mortality versus open valve replacement. There are three questions concerning the role of TAVR for intermediate-risk patients. These relate to: institutional and surgeon results, physician and hospital alignments, and who will pay.
Lars G Svensson - Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Aorta Center and Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland, US