One of the most important processes in the human body is performed by the heart. It is a complex organ with a one-way aortic valve separating the aorta from the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber. The aortic valve opens, allowing blood from the primary pumping chamber to flow to the entire body. To prevent a backflow of blood, this aortic valve closes as the heart contracts during diastole. However, as people age, they develop several issues due to the heart valve, including narrowing due to calcium buildup, valve dilatation problems, thickening of valve membranes, etc. Eventually, the patient must have surgery due to the condition’s progression.
Aortic valve procedures have historically involved open heart surgery and have been extremely invasive. Invasive surgery is a source of great worry because patients are typically older. However, times have changed. Technology has advanced to the point that we now have innovations like Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), which offers a less risky alternative to open heart surgery. But what exactly is this alternative approach? How is this procedure performed without opening the heart? What additional advantages do patients receive? Dr. Bikash Majumder, The Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Apollo Hospital, provides us with the solutions to these queries.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation, or TAVI, is the name of this alternative technique to surgical aortic valve implantation, according to Dr. Bikash Majumder. The faulty aortic valve is accessible during this treatment via the artery originating from the groin region. This relatively low-risk surgery allows doctors to use a catheter to introduce a prosthetic aortic valve as required through the groin pathway.
What are the benefits of such a technique? Dr. Majumder tells us that the benefits are numerous. Firstly, the patient won’t require extensive surgery. Due to their advanced age, the majority of patients who require the procedure frequently have other comorbidities that significantly raise the risks of major surgery, which TAVI helps to reduce. Additionally, the patient does not require anaesthesia and can be discharged from the hospital two to three days after the procedure.
Needless to say, many elderly people around the world have benefited from a relatively low-risk technique for treating aortic valve disorders. Additionally, it is a technique that doctors strongly encourage and trust. It is said that TAVI is preferred over standard surgery in high-risk patients, mostly due to its improved results. Trials comparing the cost-effectiveness of surgery with TAVI in patients with moderate and low risk have revealed comparable results.
However, as with any surgery, it is essential to seek medical advice from a qualified professional at the outset, particularly for the treatment of cardiac disorders. The cardiology department at Apollo Multispecialty Hospital is always available if you have questions about where to turn.
