More and more surgeons and interventionalists are getting their hands on the Edwards transcatheter aortic valve, now that it has CE Mark approval in Europe and the PARTNER trial ramps up in the US. Rumors of higher mortality rates with the transapical delivery method are fueling debate over appropriate patient selection, delivery technique, and what the future holds.
Irvine, CA - More physicians in Europe and the US are getting the chance to try out the Sapien transcatheter aortic valve developed by the industry heavyweight, Edwards Lifesciences, and most are still excited about the technology, despite recent reports highlighting the mortality associated with different device-delivery methods, the tremendous skill required to implant it, and nuances of appropriate patient selection. In Europe, the Sapien has been available since late 2007, while in the US, interventionalists and surgeons are getting their hands on the device as the pivotal US PARTNER trial ramps up enrollment.
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