Pibarot P, Ternacle J, Jaber WA, et al. - Researchers investigated intermediate-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in the PARTNER (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves) 2A trial and registry, to ascertain as well as compare the 5-year incidence of structural valve deterioration (SVD), employing novel standardized definitions depending on echocardiographic follow-up of valve function. In the PARTNER 2A trial, patients were randomized to be treated with either TAVR with the SAPIEN XT or SAVR, whereas patients were assigned to TAVR with the SAPIEN 3 in the SAPIEN 3 registry. Findings revealed that relative to SAVR, a higher 5-year rate of SVD was noted for the second-generation SAPIEN XT balloon-expandable valve, whereas the observed rate of SVD for the third-generation SAPIEN 3 was not different from SAVR.