Why Choose TAVI Over Open Heart Surgery?

Cardiac Surgery | by Dr. Manoj Kumar Daga | Published on 09/02/2022

Does the thought of an open heart surgery scare you and, make you anxious? Any kind of major heart surgery that takes hours to execute, a few weeks of hospitalization, the risk of infection, and so on are all situations that terrify a person and his family and friends. What if someone tells you that you may recuperate without undergoing such a complicated procedure? These days due to the advanced surgical procedures, it’s possible to get early recovery without any significant complications with the help of minimally invasive heart surgeries like TAVI.

 

TAVI is performed for patients suffering from arterial stenosis (AS), a medical condition that narrows down the aortic valve due to calcium and plaque deposition on the valve leaflets. These valves get stiffer and narrower with time, thereby obstructing the normal blood flow to the heart. As suggested by the experts specializing in the best heart hospital in Kolkata, TAVI is considered the gold standard procedure for treating various heart valve blockages these days.

 

In this blog, we are going to discuss the TAVI procedure, why choose TAVI over conventional open-heart surgery, and many more. Keep reading!

Understanding the TAVI procedure-

You might wonder what exactly the TAVI procedure is! Here’s what you need to know.

TAVI (Transcatheter aortic valve implantation) is a minimally invasive treatment that involves a new prosthetic valve placement in the patient's heart to replace the existing diseased or defective valve. The treatment is performed through 3 to 4 small incisions using a cardiac catheterization technique and precise imaging assistance.

 

Who is the right candidate for TAVI?

Patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not candidates for traditional surgery are frequently advised to undergo the procedure.

• Old aged patients over 70 years
• Patients who have had a history of heart surgery
• Those who have a severely calcified aorta
• Patients having severe kidney disease(kidney failure)
• Those who are suffering from long-term respiratory disease
• Patients with cerebrovascular disease

 

Why choose TAVI over traditional open-heart surgery for arterial valve replacement?

As recommended by the experienced panel of heart surgeons in Kolkata, the following are the advantages of undergoing TAVI over conventional open-heart surgical procedures.

• The duration of surgery is much lesser than the conventional one
• Fast recovery after the surgery
• Lesser risk and complications
• Reduced chances of infection
• Minimal blood loss during surgery
• shorter hospital stay (3-4 days after the procedure)
• Better quality of life
• Safest surgical procedure for people with a history of associated medical conditions

 

FAQ- all your concerns resolved:

 

• Is it(TAVI) painful?

TAVI is a minimally invasive procedure, which means it doesn't require any big incisions. The complete procedure will be carried out under the effect of sedation or anesthesia. This naturally reduces the discomfort. You'll probably feel mild pain and discomfort, which can be readily controlled with pain medication. Apart from that, there isn't much to be concerned about.

 

• Should I be worried about undergoing the procedure?

TAVI, despite being a relatively new technique, has earned a lot of attention because of its high success rate and benefits. There are minor risks and complications, like with any surgical operation, but they can be easily addressed. Though it is possible that some people may not be eligible for the treatment, in that case, your medical personnel will inform you about the same ahead of time.

 

• Explaining the TAVI surgical procedure-

What your doctor wants you to know before undergoing the surgery?

If you've been advised to have TAVI and are curious about what will happen when you're lying on the surgical table, this may provide an answer.

• You will be asked to lie down while medicine and other fluids are administered intravenously.
• The treatment is carried out under the influence of anesthesia, so you will not experience any pain or discomfort.
• Following that, 2 to 3 tiny incisions are made at the operative site.
• A wire is inserted into the femoral artery through an incision at the groin region. The wire is passed through the stenotic aortic valve.
• A catheter(a hollow, flexible tube-like structure) with a balloon on one of its ends is passed over the wire with care. This balloon catheter is inflated to open up the stenotic valve. Thus it helps in cracking the plaque deposit and freeing up the leaflets.
• Finally, the balloon is deflated and retracted along with the catheter.

This helps in restoring the normal blood flow through the valve.

 

Conclusion- if your doctor has considered TAVI as a treatment option for you but you are worried about undergoing the surgery and want to take a second opinion! You can count on us as we are offering the best TAVI surgery in Kolkata, delivering a significant number of successful TAVI procedures.