TAVR remains a cornerstone therapy for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology compared outcomes among three contemporary transcatheter valve systems using data from a single-center, all-comer cohort.

The analysis included 1,049 patients (mean age 80 years; 49% women) who underwent TAVR with self-expanding supra-annular, self-expanding intra-annular, or balloon-expandable valves. Clinical, demographic, and follow-up parameters were assessed to determine safety and hemodynamic performance.

The self-expanding supra-annular design required fewer permanent pacemaker implantations than other self-expanding systems and achieved rates comparable to balloon-expandable valves. Paravalvular leak of moderate or greater severity occurred less often with balloon-expandable valves.

These findings reinforce the importance of individualized valve selection based on anatomy and risk profile. Despite the discontinuation of one device, the study highlights the continuing need for innovation to optimize procedural outcomes and long-term valve performance.