New techniques for the treatment of valvular aortic stenosis--transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the SAPIEN heart valve.

Acquired aortic stenosis (AS) resulting from calcification of the aortic valve is the most frequent acquired valve disease in Europe. Due to the increasing average life expectancy the population in the western industrial world is aging, and consequently the prevalence of AS requiring aortic valve replacement (AVR), particularly in older patients, is continuously increasing. However, the risk of conventional AVR with the use of sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and cardioplegic cardiac arrest is obviously higher in the elderly patient, in whom significant comorbidities may additionally pre-exist.