Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a proven surgical approach to replace a narrowed aortic valve. It is an ideal surgical option for high-risk patients who cannot have open-heart heart surgery. During the TAVR procedure, a prosthetic valve is implanted using a catheter and expanded over the existing valve. Thus, the artificial valve is wedged into place without removing the old valve.
The valve begins functioning immediately after its in place. Also known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), this procedure allows the aortic valve to be repaired without major surgery and is completed in a span of two hours.
TAVR surgery is recommended for: High-risk aortic stenosis repair surgery:
If a patient is at intermediate or high-risk complications for surgical aortic valve replacement, TAVI heart treatment is indicated. This helps avoid surgical complications due to:
A multidisciplinary team of doctors comprehensively evaluate each patient by conducting appropriate diagnostic tests to determine if the procedure is a good treatment option for the patient.
TAVR treatment has several benefits over the conventional procedure to surgically replace the aortic valve. These include:
Thus, TAVI procedure risks are minimal and patients can recover quickly without any postoperative side-effects.
Before the TAVI procedure, the patient may have to adjust their medication and habits like eating or drinking water according to the needs of the treatment. The treatment team will generally discuss these factors with the patient. Some factors that require consideration are:
Medication: If the patient is on regular medication, he/she should discuss with the doctor whether they can be taken before the procedure.
Ingestion: The patient may have to avoid eating or drinking before the procedure.
Allergies: The patient should discuss their allergies, if any, with the doctor before the procedure. This includes any reactions to medicines.
The following are TAVR procedure steps:
Monitoring the heart: A team of interventional cardiologists, imaging specialists, cardiac anesthesiologists, cardiac surgeons, and other specialists will monitor the patient’s heart function during the procedure.
Incision to access the heart: The heart is accessed through a point in the leg or chest.
Insertion of catheter: A catheter (hollow tube) is inserted through the access point and guided to the heart via blood vessels.
Guiding the catheter: Advanced imaging techniques are used to carefully guide and position the tube at the aortic valve.
Positioning the valve: A balloon is inflated to press the valve into place. Some valves may not require a balloon to settle into place.
Talk to Our Health Care Experts!
Have any Questions?
Appointment
Second Opinion
WhatsApp
Call
More
