A Guide On TAVI

Our body has many arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood from our heart. Of them, the largest one is the aorta. It starts right from the top of the left ventricle of the heart’s muscular pumping chamber and ends just above the pelvis. This way, it ensures optimal blood flow. But sometimes, the aortic valves narrow down. This happens due to a calcium build-up on the valve leaflets.

As a result, the heart needs to work harder to optimise the blood flow through these narrow valves. This is called aortic stenosis, a condition common amongst elderly individuals. Ideally, such people are advised to get heart valve surgery done. But if they are unfit, they need to opt for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation or TAVI. Following is a guide on what it is all about:

How does it work?

TAVI is a safe medical procedure. It improves the damaged aortic valve. During this procedure, an artificial valve gets implanted into the heart. This valve is usually made of natural animal heart tissue. Compared to standard heart valve surgery, TAVI is relatively less invasive. It typically takes a couple of hours. Initially, doctors make a small incision in either of the three places: the groin, neck, or between the ribs.

They then guide a thin, flexible tube (catheter) with the heart valve through it. Eventually, the new valve reaches the diseased one and starts functioning immediately.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

The TAVI is a safer alternative to open-heart surgery. It reduces the prominent symptoms caused by aorta stenosis. These include chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc. It also improves the patient’s energy levels considerably. But the primary benefit is the reduced risk of heart failure. As it is a less invasive procedure, the patient barely feels any pain. Plus, the doctor administers local or general anaesthetic with sedation before the process.

How long is the recovery process?

After the procedure, the patient may have mild discomfort. But this goes away with some pain relief medications. The medical team also constantly monitors their pain level. Usually, the patient gets discharged within a week after the surgery. From there on, it takes anywhere between two to three months to recover fully. But this duration also varies between patients. For example, those who take proper post-operative care may recover before the prescribed time.

How to prepare for TAVI?

Preparing for a TAVI procedure is hassle-free. Follow these guidelines:

• Inform your doctor about other medicines that you consume regularly
• Do not eat for at least six hours before your surgery begins
• Do not drink any fluids minimum of two hours before the procedure
• Remove all your jewellery beforehand
• Inform your doctor beforehand if a specific kind of anaesthetic affects you physically

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Created on Mar 29th 2022 02:19. Viewed 183 times.

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