Imaging for TAVI

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a recent technique for the treatment of patients with severe symptomatic AS, who are at high risk for conventional aortic valve replacement or considered inoperable (Vahanian et al. 2008). It is a challenging procedure that requires a multidisciplinary team approach, involving interventional cardiologists, cardiac and vascular surgeons, anesthesiologists and imaging specialists. Currently the Edwards SAPIEN™ and CoreValve™ valve are the prosthesis approved for transcatheter aortic stenosis treatment, both with good clinical and hemodynamic results at short and midterm follow-up (Rodes-Cabau et al. 2010; Leon et al. 2010; Smith et al. 2011). Each valve has specific characteristics and different aortic anatomic requirements, in consequence, imaging plays an essential task for proper patient‘s selection, decision on procedure access route and also for procedure guidance and patients’ follow-up.