Kumar N, et al. - Given that post hoc analyses of clinical trials have shown superior outcomes for a transfemoral (TF) vs a transapical (TA) approach for TAVI, researchers analyzed the outcomes of TF vs TA TAVI in real-world patient populations via the National Inpatient Sample 2011–2014. They identified TF-TAVI and TA-TAVI procedures using ICD-9 procedure codes 35.05 and 35.06, respectively, and assembled a propensity-matched cohort of TF and TA TAVI procedures balanced on 23 baseline characteristics. They assessed in-hospital mortality, acute kidney injury (AKI), AKI requiring dialysis (AKI-D) and post-operative stroke. Findings demonstrated that TF-TAVI vs TA-TAVI was related to lower rates of in-hospital mortality and AKI. These data recommend a TF approach over a TA approach whenever possible.