Engineering perspective on transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) implantation has emerged as a revolutionary, minimally invasive treatment for inoperable or high-risk surgical patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Since the first-in-man procedure in 2002, over 50,000 TAVs have been implanted worldwide. Fundamental differences in application and design exist between TAV implantation and surgical aortic valve replacement. Computational and experimental fluid dynamics are powerful techniques used in engineering to fully understand the implications of this new intervention. The computational and experimental TAV literature to elucidate TAV hemodynamics in comparison with stented bioprotheses is reviewed in this article. The authors then identify key areas where further work is needed to expand this technology to younger and healthier patients.