(1) A meta-analysis performed by Danielsen and colleagues shows that 17% are readmitted to hospital within 30 days of aortic valve surgery. Following TAVI the readmission rate is 16%. The review includes results from 32 articles with a total of more than 500,000 patients.

The most frequent causes of rehospitalization are heart failure, arrhythmia, infection and respiratory problems. No risk factors for readmission following surgery were found, whereas patients with diabetes, chronic lung disease, atrial fibrillation and kidney problems are at increased risk of readmission following TAVI.

(2) Structured telephone follow-up and a 24/7 hotline did not reduce 30-day all-cause readmissions following aortic surgery. 288 patients were included in the randomized controlled trial that compared the telephone-based follow-up intervention with usual care.

22.3% of the patients were readmitted during follow-up, and patients with anxiety symptoms and pleural drainage before discharge were at increased risk. The intervention reduced symptoms of anxiety, but depression and participant-reported health state were unaffected.

(3) More than half of the patients in the randomized controlled study reported to be satisfied with the telephone intervention and almost everyone felt safe.