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2017 ACC/AHA Focused Update of the Guideline for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease: key messages and future insights

There has been substantial progress in the field since the publication of the 2014 American College of Cardiology /American Heart Association Guideline for the Management of Valvular Heart Disease, thus mandating a timely update. Major modifications that were highlighted in the 2017 Focused Update include the treatment choice for aortic stenosis, management of mitral regurgitation, the selection of prosthetic valve type and antiplatelet/antithrombotic therapy for bioprostheses. The current review aims at providing a reasonable interpretation of the most important messages conveyed in the 2017 Focused Update and their implications for the future development of this area.