About this episode
Contributor: Nick Hatch, MD Educational Pearls: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an increasingly common endovascular procedure to treat aortic stenosis TAVR is an alternative to the open approach surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for patients who are inoperable or are high risk surgical candidates Following TAVR, there is increased risk of stroke, particularly in the first 30 days TAVR-related strokes are due to embolic debris left on the valve root, which is generally cleaned out during SAVR Further, following the procedure many patients are anticoagulated which increases the risk for conversion to hemorrhagic stroke Isolated, unexplained nausea and vomiting in elderly patients should prompt concern for a neurologic workup with imaging - even more so if they have recently undergone TAVR References Davlouros PA, Mplani VC, Koniari I, Tsigkas G, Hahalis G. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement and stroke: a comprehensive review. J Geriatr Cardiol . 2018;15(1):95-104. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2018.01.008 Gleason TG, Reardon MJ, Popma JJ, et al. 5-Year Outcomes of Self-Expanding Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in High-Risk Patients. J Am Coll Cardiol . 2018;72(22):2687-2696. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.08.2146 Siontis GCM, Overtchouk P, Cahill TJ, et al. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation vs. surgical aortic valve replacement for treatment of symptomatic severe aortic stenosis: an updated meta-analysis. Eur Heart J . 2019;40(38):3143-3153. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehz275 Summarized by Kirsten Hughes, MS4 | Edited by John Spartz MS4 & Erik Verzemnieks, MD The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ via online course modules. To access these and for more information, visit our website at https://emergencymedicalminute.org/cme-courses/ and create an account. Donate to EMM today!