Pushing the Envelope for Transcatheter Valve Interventions in Canada

Authors

  • Bryan Traynor, MD Terrence Donnelly Heart Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
  • Akshay Bagai, MD, MHS Terrence Donnelly Heart Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cct.2025.126

Abstract

Transcatheter valve interventions (TVIs) have revolutionized the treatment of structural heart disease, by providing a less invasive option to surgical valve repair or replacement for patients. Canada has been at the forefront of adopting these therapies, yet significant challenges remain. These include expanding indications, training operators, optimizing access, and integrating these rapidly evolving procedures into a government-funded single-access healthcare system. This review explores the current landscape of TVIs in Canada. We discuss the necessity for centres of excellence, training pathways for operators, and the multidisciplinary infrastructure required to ensure equitable and high-quality care.

Author Biographies

Bryan Traynor, MD, Terrence Donnelly Heart Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Bryan Traynor, MB BCh graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland in 2015. He completed his general internal medicine (MRCPI 2017) and cardiology specialist training (CSCST 2024) through the RCPI in Ireland. Following his specialist training he undertook a 1-year subspecialty fellowship in interventional cardiology at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin. He then completed a further 2-year fellowship in complex coronary and structural heart disease intervention at St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto. He returned to Ireland as a consultant cardiologist at Cork University Hospital in August 2025.

Akshay Bagai, MD, MHS, Terrence Donnelly Heart Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Akshay Bagai is a practicing interventional cardiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital and an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Bagai received his MD and trained in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the University of Toronto. He completed his training in Interventional Cardiology at St. Michael’s Hospital. He obtained a Masters degree in Health Sciences from the Clinical Research Training Program at Duke University, USA. He returned to Toronto and joined the Division of Cardiology at St. Michael’s Hospital in August 2013. His clinical and research interests are closely aligned and include complex, high risk, and total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention, and transcatheter interventions for mitral and tricuspid valve disease.

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2025-09-29

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Traynor B, Bagai A. Pushing the Envelope for Transcatheter Valve Interventions in Canada. Can Cardiol Today [Internet]. 2025 Sep. 29 [cited 2025 Oct. 26];1(2):4–14. Available from: https://canadiancardiologytoday.com/article/view/1-2-Traynor_et_al

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