A retrospective analysis reports near-identical outcomes for transcatheter aortic valve implantation systems by medtech rivals Medtronic and Edwards Lifesciences, but Edwards’ Sapien tallies a win for its corner with fewer patients requiring permanent pacemakers following TAVI.
Results from the PRAGMATIC Plus analysis of Edwards Lifesciences’ (NYSE:EW) Sapien transcatheter aortic valve implantation system and Medtronic’s (NYSE:MDT) rivaling CoreValve device found few differences between the devices, with the exception of lower rates of permanent pacemaker implantation in patients who received Edwards’ Sapien device.
The so-called “pacemaker issue” has been a recurring topic at healthcare conferences since 1st publication earlier this year in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, although the problem isn’t considered a safety risk.
