Transcatheter valve implantation for aortic stenosis: acronym matters

In 2002, Alain Cribier performed the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).Since then, TAVI has evolved from an experimental procedure into a consolidated and globally widespread therapeutic strategy.To date, nearly 3 million patients in more than 80 countries have undergone TAVI, and its use is increasingly surpassing that of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).The new 2025 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the Management of Valvular Heart Disease are expected to further expand TAVI indications.Specifically, the updated guidelines introduce a new age threshold of 70 years for TAVI (Class I, Level A).Moreover, intervention should be considered in asymptomatic patients with severe, high-gradient aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF 50%), as an alternative to close active surveillance, provided the procedural risk is low (Class IIa, Level A).