There is a much larger population of elderly people who cannot undergo surgical repair of a stenotic aortic valve than previously believed, Mack, chair of the PARTNER trial steering committee, told MedPage Today cardiology editor Chris Kaiser at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics meeting here.

And they now have a better treatment option than standard medical care, said Mack, director of cardiovascular surgery for the Baylor Healthcare System in Dallas.

In addition, promising quality-of-life and cost-effectiveness results from PARTNER cohort A will bolster the overall positive outlook for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Results from a cost-effectiveness standpoint show that TAVI is the best of both worlds -- it's more effective and less costly, Mack explained.

Source: MedPage Today