Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) also known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), is the replacement of the diseased aortic valve of the heart through the blood vessels in the leg (as opposed to the valve replacement by open heart surgery). The artificial valve is delivered via one of the several assess methods: Transfemoral (in the upper leg), Transapical (through the wall of the heart), Subclavian (beneath the collar bone), Direct aortic (through a minimally invasive surgical incision into the aorta).
Severe Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis carries a poor prognosis. Until recently, surgical aortic valve replacement has been the standard of care in adults with severe Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis. However, the risks associated with surgical aortic valve replacement are increased in elderly patients and those with concomitant severe systolic heart failure or coronary artery disease, as well as in people with comorbidities such as Cerebrovascular and Peripheral Arterial disease, Chronic kidney disease, and Chronic respiratory dysfunction.
The valve has to be fitted on a delivery system to make it ready for implantation. The procedure can be done in local anesthesia and once the catheter is passed from the leg artery into the aorta, the delivery system with valve is passed over it up to the diseased valve and valve is released and seated in its position. After a check angiography and the delivery system is taken out from the artery.