First nationwide study launched evaluating use of TAVR in low-risk patients

(MedStar Washington Hospital Center) MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center will be the first site in the US to initiate a clinical trial, examining the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, for patients who are considered at low risk for death from surgery. Currently, TAVR is limited only to patients who are inoperable or too high-risk to undergo traditional open-heart surgery.