*Transcatheter Treatment of Aortic Valve Disease Clinical and Technical Aspects DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.105860*

clinical stabilization, and forecasting the results of a definitive correction of the valve disease, as a "bridge to decision (medical therapy/TAVI/SAVR)" therapy. In particular, the evaluation of BAV's results provides prognostic information and is capable of identifying patients who are going to take advantage of aortic valve disease correction [39, 40]. In addition, performing BAV could improve mobility and general status of frailty patients, helping them to bear intensive rehabilitation courses that could be fundamental to face up to aortic valve intervention with the lowest frailty degree. In the end, in frailty patients, in which a judgment of futility has been made (especially for poor life expectancy), BAV may be used as a temporary palliative treatment, as a "destination therapy" [24]. A major limitation of BAV has always been the risk of vascular complications, as the most widespread vascular access site is the femoral venous and arterial access. This site is associated with a rate of major and minor vascular complications of, respectively, 2.7% and 6.6%, even with the use of advanced hemostasis systems (Angio-Seal and ProGlide) [41]. In recent years, there was an important effort in researching techniques to minimize periprocedural complications and, in this context, the Safety and Feasibility of Transradial Mini-invasive Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty (SOFTLY; NCT03087552) study showed the feasibility and safety of a mini-invasive approach combining radial artery access and LV pacing through the wire (without implantation of a temporary pacemaker through venous access) [42]. The possibility of a mini-invasive approach able to significantly reduce access-related complications could be a great incentive for the use of BAV in order to improve frailty situations before an aortic valve disease definitive correction is performed.
