Prayagraj: When the problem of narrowing of the heart valve becomes serious, the heart has to work harder to supply blood to the body. This condition is called aortic stenosis. If not treated on time, it can lead to heart failure, chest pain, fainting and sudden cardiac death. It is usually treated with surgery, but due to old age, frailty or other diseases, the risk of open heart surgery is very high for some patients. For such patients, TAVI i.e. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation can be an option.

Dr. Anand Kumar Pandey, Principal Director of the Department of Interventional Cardiology and Head of the Heart Failure Program at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, said, “Aortic stenosis involves narrowing of the heart valve, which hinders blood flow to the body. In some patients, open heart surgery may be risky due to age, other diseases, or previous heart surgery.

TAVI is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implanting a new aortic valve using a catheter. It may be especially useful for elderly patients who are physically frail or have underlying conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. This option may also be considered for patients who have previously undergone bypass surgery or angioplasty, and for those for whom major surgery is risky.

This procedure does not require opening the chest or cutting bone. This can result in shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to normal routines for patients. Treatment through a catheter results in smaller incisions and may reduce pain and scarring. However, results depend on the patient’s age, health, and severity of the disease.

Raising awareness about TAVI in India is essential, as many patients and their families are unaware of it. If aortic stenosis is diagnosed, especially when open-heart surgery is considered risky, a cardiologist should be consulted about TAVI.