As you age, your body and organs deteriorate, including the heart. While it is unfortunate to develop heart disease at a younger age, the treatment is free of co-morbidities for young patients. With time, there are significant developments in the medical and surgical industry for cardiac problems. Aortic stenosis is a common valve disease causing a narrowed aortic valve restricting the blood flow from the heart to the artery and the body.
Depending on the severity of the disease, you require a valve repair or replacement surgery. An advanced procedure like Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation or TAVI comes to the rescue. It is a non-surgical technique where your heart valves get replaced through needle puncture of the skin instead of a scalpel.
Benefits
There is a 97% device success rate displayed during the trial period. It lowers the incidences of strokes and device-related mortality. It also reduces the need for a pacemaker and the risk of vascular complications. It includes a cobalt alloy frame for high radial strength and radiopacity. Treating aortic stenosis through this procedure is possible after consulting your general physician and a team of heart surgery specialists.
The doctors work together to understand your medical history, the risk factors involved and help determine the best treatment option for you. It helps relieve the signs and symptoms of aortic valve stenosis and improves the chances of survival in people displaying severe symptoms.
The procedure
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement or TAVR is possible through minor openings leaving all chest bones in place. At the beginning of the procedure, you get a general anaesthetic. A small incision is required to fix the thin, flexible tube containing the heart valve through the femoral artery. With the help of the catheter, a specialised hollow tube and advanced imaging tools, the surgeon places the valve in the heart’s affected area.
Once the valve is in position, they expand the balloon to place the new valve into the diseased valve to treat the affected valve immediately. The doctor removes the tube and closes the incision. It takes approximately one to two hours to complete.
Who should undergo it?
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement is available for patients in all risk categories. It serves as an effective option to improve the quality of life in patients with limited choices for aortic valve repair. The average recovery time after this procedure is between three to five days. It uses a non-surgical technology leaving no scars, reducing anxiety, and improving heart functions. Talk to your doctor for resolving questions on this procedure.
Preparing for the procedure
Your team gives you instructions on how to prepare for the TAVR procedure. You need to shave your hair off at the treatment spot. Talk to your doctor about regular medications and whether you can take them before the procedure. Explain any drug allergies you have.
Items
You need to bring several items to the hospital, including medicines, eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, personal care items, comfortable clothing, and books or music players for relaxation.