Trans catheter Aortic valve replacement is a minimal invasive procedure used to replace the aortic valve in patients with aortic stenosis. The aortic valve is a “one-way check-valve” that allows blood to go from the left side of the heart to the brain and the rest of the body. As we get older, calcium may build up on the valve, causing it to narrow and not open as well. Aortic stenosis refers to the narrowing of that valve so that it does not fully open and less blood flows to the rest of the body.
Symptoms of aortic stenosis occur as the heart works very hard to try to squeeze the blood through the restricted valve to the rest of the body. The most common symptoms of aortic stenosis are as follows:
- Shortness of breath on exertion
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Gradual decrease in the ability to exercise feeling fatigued.
- Heart palpation
Sometimes aortic stenosis can be present, but the patient has no symptoms. In such cases, the patient should follow up with a cardiologist for symptoms and findings of aortic valve disease progression.
TAVR is a less invasive option to conventional open heart surgery. Instead of opening the chest, and cutting out the old valve and replacing it with a new one, TAVR uses a flexible tube called a catheter, that reaches the heart through the artery in the groin (like the heart catheterization) to access the faulty valve and implant a new artificial valve inside the existing valve, which is pushed to the side once the new valve is deployed.
The procedure is reserved for those people for whom an open heart procedure poses intermediate risk. Most people because of this reason have this procedure are in their 70s or 80 and often have other medical conditions that make them a better candidate for this type of surgery.
TAVI can be an effective option to improve quality of life in patients who otherwise have limited choices for repair of their aortic valve.
