Transcatheter aortic valve replacement program development: recommendations for best practice.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an increasingly available therapy for the management of aortic stenosis in higher risk populations. Beyond addressing the procedural challenges, centers must attend to the unique requirements of developing TAVR programs from referral to follow-up.

Aim: The aim of this article is to outline the recommendations for best practice for program development from centers with early and extensive experience.

Explanatory value of the Ability Index as assessed by cardiologists and patients with congenital heart disease.

Introduction: The Ability Index was developed to classify patients with congenital heart disease into four functional classes. Functional class is typically determined by the cardiologist, based on data from a clinical interview. The validity of the Ability Index as assessed by the patient has never been scrutinized.