Alternative Access Approaches for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replace (TAVR) in Inoperable Patients With Aortic Stenosis

Investigational study of Edwards Lifesciences, LLC's "Edwards SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve" for non-femoral delivery, (or alternative access deliver) in patients with severe symptomatic native aortic valve stenosis who have been determined by a cardiac surgeon to be inoperable for open aortic valve replacement and in whom existing co-morbidities would not preclude the expected benefit from correction of the aortic stenosis. Will outcomes observed in a high-risk operable transapical native valve TAVR cohort receiving an Edwards SAPIEN device compare to inoperable patients undergoing alternative access TAVR with the Edwards SAPIEN device experience a reasonably similar incidence of 30 day adverse events?