Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI) has become the standard of care for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Since its introduction, the majority of TAVI procedures have been performed under general anesthesia. Initially developed as a less invasive alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for high-risk or inoperable patients, its use has grown due to innovations in device design, smaller delivery systems, and increased procedural experience (J Thorac Dis 2018;10:S3588-94). These improvements in many aspects of the procedure have made TAVI even less invasive, which has led to a growing interest in “minimalist” TAVI (Front Cardiovasc Med 2018;5:96). An integral component of minimalist TAVI is the use of moderate sedation with monitored anesthesia care instead of general anesthesia.
Both modalities have advantages as well as disadvantages (JACC Cardiovasc Interv 2020;13:1277-87). Consequently, an important question has emerged on whether general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care...
