Trans catheter aortic valve replacement ( TAVR)

If you've recently been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, which means your heart's aortic valve isn't opening properly, you could feel overwhelmed. Until today, the only option was to have the valve surgically replaced. The good news is that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a less invasive treatment option for severe aortic stenosis. The majorities of patients who receive treatment recover quickly and go on to enjoy full and productive lives. Here's all you need to know about aortic valve disease and its management.

Aortic valve replacement via transcatheter is a minimally invasive surgical method that replaces the valve without the need for traditional open-heart surgery or a large incision. It alleviates the distressing symptoms of aortic valve stenosis in patients who are at high risk of surgical complications, making it a safer choice in heart valve treatment.

What is the mechanism behind it?

The trans catheter treatment is a catheter-based procedure that was created as an alternative to surgery. It involves a catheter, which is a lengthy tube, to deliver a new tissue-based aortic valve to replace your old aortic valve.

Patients who need for TAVR (trans catheter aortic valve replacement)?

•  Blood flow from your heart to your body is controlled by your aortic valve. Aortic stenosis is a situation in which the aortic valve does not completely open due to valve leaflet thickening. To pump blood via the narrow valve opening, your heart may have to work too hard, resulting in heart failure. Your doctor may simply watch your illness in the early stages, when you have no symptoms.
•  If you start to experience symptoms like chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigability, or palpitation when you exercise, you should get medical help. In this scenario, your doctor will either propose open-heart surgery (traditional) or coronary angioplasty (non-conventional) or if you are at high risk, TAVR (trans catheter aortic valve replacement surgery).
•  Patients with severe and symptomatic aortic stenosis, i.e. a narrowed or obstructed aorta, are the most likely candidates for the surgery.
•  Patients who are deemed to be at a medium or high risk for aortic valve replacement surgery.
•  Trans catheter aortic valve replacement has emerged as a lifeline for individuals deemed inoperable, offering both symptom relief and a statistically significant reduction in death.

There are a few methods for carrying out the procedure, and your doctor will choose the ideal one for you based on your needs. However, the surgery is usually performed via a trans femoral approach: A big femoral artery is used to implant the catheter.

Before to the surgery

Your doctor will guide you through the procedure and answer any questions you might have about it.

Tell your doctor about your medications (particularly any blood thinners), your medical history, and any allergies you may have.

Blood samples, a chest x-ray, and potentially a cardiac catheterization test will be performed prior to the treatment to check your heart.

What occurs during the procedure?

•  You could be completely sleeping, or you could be awake but given a sedative to help you relax and block pain.
•  Your doctor will dilate the stenosed valve using a balloon catheter device inserted through a groin puncture.
•  The device carried on a balloon catheter is positioned above the old aortic valve under fluoroscopic supervision, and your doctor will extend it and insert the new valve to replace the old one.
•  The necessary measures will be made to ensure that your new valve functions correctly, after which the catheter will be withdrawn.
•  Suture is used to close the incision on your skin, which is then covered with a bandage.
•  In comparison to open-heart surgery, which takes at least 4 hours, the total treatment usually takes about 1–2 hours.
•  You will be moved to a recovery room for monitoring later.
•  To prevent blood clots, your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner.
•  The majority of patients have immediate improvement from their symptoms following their TAVR operation.

TAVR has less recovery time than open-heart surgery because it is a less invasive treatment. Consult your doctor for an estimate of how long it will take you to recuperate.

What are the main characteristics of the catheter intervention method?

•  A minimally invasive procedure allows for a faster recovery and a shorter hospital stay, giving many patients a better quality of life in the short to mid-term. It is especially useful when open surgery is not an option or is technically difficult.
•  Within a few days, most patients are back to their normal routines and have regained their strength.

A lot of practical considerations will influence the decision when deciding which strategy is best for a specific patient. The interventional cardiologist with the most experience makes the final decision. After receiving a recent diagnosis of a heart problem, you may feel uncertain, frightened, and scared. However, if your physician has informed you that you have severe aortic stenosis and you are experiencing symptoms, you should get treatment immediately. Keep in mind that the majority of TAVR patients live a long time.