Transapical access: current status and future directions.

With the rapid evolution of transcatheter aortic valve implantation over the past few years, transapical access has evolved to be a routine approach for the implantation of transcatheter aortic valve prostheses. The approach itself has demonstrated feasibility, safety and reproducibility associated with low complication rates. As the access allows for relatively large profile devices and owing to the short anatomical distance to both the mitral and the aortic valve, the apical approach facilitates a wide range of interventions. Thus, minimally invasive transapical access can be considered as a versatile platform for the development of new transcatheter aortic or mitral devices.