Heart HealthTAVR Matches Open-Heart Surgery for Valve Durability at 7 Years
A major question in cardiology has been whether minimally invasive heart valve replacement (TAVR) holds up as well as traditional open-heart surgery over the long term. New 7-year data from the landmark PARTNER 3 trial, involving nearly 1,000 low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, show remarkably similar outcomes. Rates of structural valve deterioration, overall valve failure, and need for reintervention were statistically indistinguishable between TAVR and surgery. One notable difference: TAVR valves showed higher rates of subclinical valve thrombosis, though most cases resolved and rarely progressed to full valve failure. These findings significantly strengthen the case for TAVR in younger, lower-risk patients who previously faced pressure to choose surgery for presumed better longevity of the implanted valve.
