TAVI

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

the management of aortic stenosis has changed

The aortic valve opens when the heart’s left ventricle contracts to allow the passage of blood into the aorta, the body’s main artery. Aortic stenosis is the narrowing of the aortic valve, which restricts the flow of blood from the ventricle into the aorta. This can cause patients to feel breathless, palpitations, chest pain, fatigue & even experience fainting.

There are various treatment options, depending on age and severity of the narrowing. Diagnosis through echocardiogram helps determine this and if required, your cardiologist will discuss potential procedures, such as TAVI or surgical AVR.

TAVI has revolutionised the management of aortic stenosis. TAVI is less invasive than open heart surgery, and the entire procedure takes approximately 1–2 hours. The procedure involves your doctor will making a small cut in either the groin, the neck or a space between your ribs.

The doctor will guide a thin, flexible tube with the heart valve through the incision, into your artery, and to your narrowed valve. The TAVI heart valve will be placed in your narrowed valve and begin working immediately. Your doctor will then remove the tube and close the incision.