Figure 3.

Volume-rendered peripheral CT required prior to transcatheter aortic valve implantation via the transfemoral route, which is recognised to have a lower complication rate than the transapical approach. The transfemoral route requires a 22- or 24-French sheath and an appropriate minimum luminal diameter of the femoral and iliac vessels (8 mm for the 26-mm Edwards SAPIEN valve and 7.5 mm for the 23-mm Edwards SAPIEN valve). These diameters are likely to fall with the advent of smaller delivery catheters.