A question I've been wondering about regarding these transcatheter approaches involves the delivery route. Typically there's three options and only two seem reasonable I guess. The transfemoral (delivered via the femoral artery) and transapical (delivered via a small incision in the apex of the left ventricle). I think the Edwards PARTNER trials had the transapical route method stopped in one or both categories.
I'm wondering why they don't use a similar to transapical method and make a small incision and route through aorta. For an aortic valve; to me anyway, it would seem the easiest and most normal. As that's the route an artificial valve replacement takes. Open the aorta and proceed to the aortic valve nearby.
Since nobody even trials that approach there must be a good reason. I was just wondering if anyone knows why. And even better, if anyone knows of any links to articles about such a method.