Early cerebrovascular events after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: patient- and procedure-specific predictors

Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease in the elderly; and, when severe and symptomatic, it significantly effects survival. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) via a median sternotomy is currently the default treatment strategy for those who are low to intermediate surgical-risk candidates. However, a significant proportion of elderly and high-risk patients do not undergo surgery for a variety of reasons, which include increased operative risk, advanced age, comorbidity, and patient choice.