Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a new treatment of patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who are at high risk for conventional open heart surgery or considered inoperable. Imaging is recommended for patient selection, choice of procedural access, prosthetic choice and sizing, procedural guidance, and detection of early and late complications.

The Edwards SAPIEN™ Valve is a balloon-expandable valve made of bovine pericardium are mounted (Figure 1A). The valve is available in two sizes, a 23 mm prosthesis for transverse aortic annular diameters of 18 to 21 mm and a 26 mm prosthesis for aortic annular diameters of 22 to 25 mm. It may be deployed via a transfemoral or transapical route. The Edwards SAPIEN™ XT as well as NovaFlex™ transfemoral and Ascendra™ transapical delivery systems, has a smaller caliber delivery system and the valve stent is thinner and comprised of a cobalt-chromium frame (Figure 1B).