Imaging techniques in transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Robert A Quaife, Jennifer Dorosz, John C Messenger, Ernesto E Salcedo

Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA

Abstract: Calcific aortic stenosis is now understood as a complex valvular degenerative process sharing many risk factors with atherosclerosis. Once patients develop symptomatic calcific aortic stenosis, the only effective treatment is aortic valve replacement. In the past decade, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been developed as an alternative to surgery to treat severe calcific aortic stenosis. Cardiac imaging plays a pivotal role in the contemporary management of patients with calcific aortic stenosis, and particularly in patients being considered for TAVR, who demand detailed imaging of the aortic valve apparatus. In this review, we highlight the role of cardiac imaging for patient selection, procedural guidance, and evaluation of results of TAVR.

Keywords: aortic stenosis, cardiovascular imaging, transcutaneous aortic valve replacement