A rose by any other name: A valve by any other method

摘要

The interest in catheter-based treatment of aortic stenosis is at a fever pitch, as indicated by the standing-room crowds packing the presentations at the recent ACC Scientific Sessions in Chicago. We, at JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, have also been overwhelmed by the large number of submissions on the subject. There are so many important papers that we decided to dedicate this issue exclusively to transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI). Is that excitement driven by the dramatic results of the PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve) trials or by the worldwide adoption of this technology outside the United States? My view is that the main driver of the current interest in the United States is the pending Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) action which will approve reimbursement for TAVI (or is it TAVR?).