TAVI
TAVI
What is transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)?
Why is the transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure required?
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is commonly required in the following cases:
- If the patient is physically unfit for traditional open heart aortic valve surgery and has a diseased aortic valve or aortic valve stenosis.
- Patients who are already suffering from chronic diseases, like diabetes, kidney disorder, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), or with a previous history of stroke or heart surgery and another open heart surgery for valve replacement may be dangerous.
- Patients with advanced age.
What preparations are required before a TAVI procedure?
Before any procedure, the medical team of doctors and surgeons will examine your overall health and medical history. Next, the doctor will perform some diagnostic tests, like blood tests, chest X-ray, or cardiac MRI, to analyze if you are the right candidate and will benefit from the TAVI procedure.
Other preparations that are necessary before the TAVI procedure include:
- Informing your doctor about your medical history, previous surgeries, and medications you take, including over-the-counter or prescription-based drugs, and herbal medications or supplements.
- Quitting to smoke before the surgery. You can ask your doctor when or how soon you should quit smoking before the surgery.
- Avoiding eating or drinking one night before the surgery.
- Follow your doctor's instructions if they ask you to stop certain medications, food, or alcohol use before surgery.
What is the procedure of transcatheter aortic valve implantation
The procedure of transcatheter aortic valve implantation may vary depending on the patient’s overall health condition, age, and medical history.
The standard protocol of TAVI includes the following steps:
- The doctors admit the patient to the hospital one or two days before the surgery.
- Next, the doctor attaches an intravenous line of catheters to the veins of the patient's arms and neck to monitor blood pressure and heart rate before and during the implantation.
- Avoiding eating or drinking one night before the surgery.
- The anaesthetist administers general anaesthesia to the patient
- To support and deliver oxygen to the patient's lungs, a breathing tube is attached to the trachea. A ventilator will also be connected to support breathing during TAVI implantation.
- For draining urine, a catheter will be attached to the patient's bladder.
- To visualize and monitor the valves during implantation, a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) probe will be attached to the esophagus.
- An incision is made in the groin (legs) of the patient.
- The doctor attaches a healthy aortic valve to a small catheter (flexible, hollow tube) with an expandable tube at the tip of the catheter.
- The catheter containing the healthy valve is inserted into the blood vessel of the groin where the incision is made.
- The catheter is guided to reach the place of the damaged aortic valve in the heart by doctors through X-rays or other imaging tools.
- As the catheter reaches the aortic valve, the balloon attached to the catheter tip expands to position the new valve in place of the old valve.
- When the new aortic valve is properly positioned, the doctor checks if the valve is working as required.
- After checking the proper functioning of the new valve, the doctor removes the catheter from the groin and closes the incision.
What are the steps after a transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure?
After transcatheter aortic valve implantation, the patient will be shifted to the hospital’s ICU (Intensive care unit), so the doctors can monitor their health and heart function closely with specialized medical apparatus.
Gradually, the doctor will remove catheters and tubes from the patient’s arteries and veins as they recover.
The patient may need to stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery, depending on their recovery speed and overall health condition.
The doctor will prescribe some blood-thinning medications to avoid blood clots and recommend precautions, like:
- Avoid intense physical activity, like rigorous walking, weight lifting, and sexual activity.
- Avoid smoking
- Close monitoring of any kind of swelling, pain, or bleeding at the incision site, breathing difficulty, or fever.
What are the possible adverse effects of the TAVI procedure?
The risks or adverse effects of the TAVI procedure are minimal with the right patient selection, close monitoring of the patient’s condition with timely intervention, and when performed by an experienced cardiologist.
However, as TAVI is a major procedure, there are some risks involved, including:
- Heart failure or severe heart attack.
- Blood vessels damage
- Lung puncture
- Bleeding
- Fluid accumulation around the heart.
- Stroke
- Kidney failure
The Heart Valve Experts offer experienced cardiologists that have handled challenging TAVI cases with comprehensive care, decreasing the risks of transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
TAVR procedure and its benefits
Uses latest Technology
Better Quality of Life
No Chest Scars
Improvement in Heart Function
Shorter Hospital Stay
Non Surgical
TAVI Faster Recovery
TAVI Lesser Pain and Anxiety
Trusted Heart Valve Experts Transforming Lives Through Pioneering TAVI Excellence
Heart Valve Experts is the leading team for TAVI procedures. The home of next-generation TAVI and TMVR – effective and minimally invasive alternatives for patients unable to undergo open heart surgery.
A tiny incision is all we need to heal your ailing heart.
Why Choose Heart Valve Experts?
At Heart Valve Experts, cardiovascular specialists work as a team to provide proper comprehensive care for patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
The team comprises of, but is not limited to, radiologists, nurses, anesthesiologists and cardiac surgeons. Meet the team performing the highest number of TAVI cases in the city.
The most experienced team in the city performing all types of structural heart interventions such as MitraClip, Balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) Paravalvular leak device closure (PVLDC).
Expertise in executing TAVI procedures through alternative access.
Affordable rates for TAVI / TMVR procedures.
