What is TAVI?
TAVI stands for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation. An aortic valve that is faulty or diseased can be replaced through a minimally invasive procedure known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The aortic valve is one of four valves in our heart that regulate blood flow to body organs. Heart failure is more likely to occur when the aortic valve malfunctions.
There is an aortic valve between the left ventricle and the aorta. As well as preventing the backflow of blood into the heart, this valve ensures that blood flows correctly from the heart to the body organs. If this valve does not function properly or becomes stiff or narrowed down and does not maintain blood flow, this condition is called aortic stenosis. Due to the narrow space between the cusps of the valve, our heart must pump more blood forcefully to maintain blood supply to different organs. Pumping forcefully increases the risk of failure.
Conventional treatment for such conditions includes open heart surgery for valve replacement. However, recent studies have shown that TAVI has improved outcomes not just in older adults but in everyone. Recently, surgery has evolved significantly, replacing conventional and tedious procedures with more success rates if properly performed by a healthcare professional. Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao, The Best TAVI Expert is giving the best treatment for TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) in Jaipur, India.
In order to implant a functioning valve in place of a diseased or faulty aortic valve, the following steps must be followed:
- The patient requiring surgery is brought to the operation table after pre-surgery checks are completed, and the catheter insertion site is decided.
- The entire team of specialists, each from their respective fields, work together to complete the task effectively.
- Anaesthesiologists will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, and breathing patterns to allow the required and tolerable amount of sedation to the patient.
- The imaging experts work to properly guide the way for a catheter to be placed properly in the place as the site for insertion is usually from the groin area.
- A cardiologist will insert a catheter through a vein from your groin area and thread it to the heart where the valve has to be placed in the place of a faulty one.
- Either a self-expanding valve or a balloon valve is used to replace the old valve. X-ray pictures are used in the entire process to safely place the new valve following which the catheter is removed from its position as it is no longer required.
- Also, the surgeon makes sure, that the new valve works properly before removing the catheter from its place, if it works efficiently the artery used for the surgical placement is closed and sutured.
- The patient is then monitored during his/her recovery and is taken for a cardiac rehabilitation program to avoid any complications.
