Transcatheter aortic valve replacement for patients with heart failure.

Older patients suffering severe heart failure related to aortic stenosis (AS) undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), owing to their high surgical risk. The diagnosis is made based on echocardiographic examination, but may require a multimodality imaging approach in patients with low gradients. In severely decompensated heart failure or cardiogenic shock, rescue percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty as a bridge to TAVR seems reasonable. Emergent TAVR has been reported. Efforts should be made to avoid late diagnosis or referring patients with severe AS to offer them timely interventions, reduce the risk of TAVR, and predict whether left ventricular function will improve.