Anesthesia for Transfemoral Aortic Valve Replacement in North America and Europe

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine how the anesthestic approach to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) differs in North America and Europe.DesignThe study was a nonrandomized survey of 82 institutions in North America and Europe performing TAVR procedures.SettingThis was an international multi-institutional survey of medical centers performing TAVR in North America and Europe.ParticipantsAnesthesiologists.InterventionsParticipant anesthesiologists from 82 institutions contacted were asked by telephone and e-mail to describe their anesthetic approach to TAVRs.Measurements and Main ResultsThe major finding of interest was if general anesthesia or sedation was used for TAVR cases.ConclusionsGeneral anesthesia is the predominant practice in North America and only 5% use sedation for TAVR cases, whereas sedation is more common in Europe.