A Clinical Review of Surgical vs Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Geriatric Patients

To provide an up-to-date review of the available evidence regarding management of elderly patients after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).A PubMed search of articles published (September 1969-December 2016) was done using a combination of the following words: aortic valve stenosis, geriatric, elderly, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, surgical aortic valve replacement, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and dual antiplatelet therapy.Relevant original research, review articles, and guidelines were assessed for the management of elderly patients after TAVR. References from the above literature were also evaluated. Articles were selected for inclusion based on relevance to the topic, detailed methods, and complete results.Aortic valve stenosis is common in the geriatric population. While patients were historically treated with surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR), more patients are now undergoing TAVR. This article reviews the current literature regarding outcomes and pharmacotherapy between surgical and TAVR in the elderly population.Appropriate management of pharmacotherapy after surgical or TAVR can help improve outcomes in elderly patients, and pharmacists can provide guidance regarding evidence-based therapy.