European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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The development of percutaneous valve replacement has broadened the procedural interface between interventional cardiologists and their cardiothoracic surgical colleagues. Our relationship is no longer restricted to the arena of coronary artery disease, and opportunities now exist to share the care of large numbers of high surgical risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. ⋯ A failure to understand this need for mutual change and increased cooperation has previously led to a sense of competition and Departmental separation between cardiac intervention and surgery. These fractured relationships ultimately limit the quality of care that we deliver to our patients.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2013
Quality of life in high-risk patients: comparison of transcatheter aortic valve implantation with surgical aortic valve replacement.
To compare health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation via transapical access (TA TAVI) with patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). ⋯ Selected high-risk patients undergoing TAVI by using a transapical access achieve similar clinical outcomes and QoL compared with patients undergoing SAVR. Increased STS scores predict worse QoL outcomes.