Aortic Valve Stenosis (AS)

Aortic Valve Stenosis or Aortic Stenosis is a condition wherein the valve between the lower left chamber of the heart and the aorta becomes narrowed and doesn’t open fully. This type of heart valve reduces blood flow from the heart to the aorta & the rest of the body.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure designed to treat Aortic Stenosis. It involves replacing the narrowed aortic valve with a biological tissue valve through small incisions. At Metro Hospitals, our experienced surgeons and certified heart team perform TAVR to restore proper blood flow from the heart to the aorta and beyond.

Preparations Before the TAVR Procedure

1. Medical History
   Before prescribing the TAVR procedure, the doctors will evaluate and assess the entire medical history and any relevant medical conditions of the past and present.
2. Medical Tests
   Following the evaluation, heart patients are required to undergo certain required tests and screenings to decide the need for minimally invasive procedures like TAVR. Doctors will also perform the tests as necessary, which may include Blood Tests, Urine tests, an Aortogram, a detailed Physical Examination, and Frailty Testing.
3. Medications
   Based on the tests, the doctors will review the medications. Heart specialists might recommend certain medications and also stop some of them in preparation for the procedure.
4. Exercise
   A certain amount of physical activity may be recommended by the doctor for the TAVR procedure. It is also recommended that you ask your doctor about the maximum amount of physical activity that you are allowed to do before the TAVR procedure. Aortic stenosis may make it difficult to do strenuous physical activity without quickly getting tired
5. Diet
   The doctors will also make diet recommendations for patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis. A healthy diet can be a significant contributing factor to the success of the TAVR procedure.
6. Dental Health
   We also recommend that before the TAVR procedure, patients get a detailed oral checkup done. Certain rare oral infections can trigger growths on damaged heart valves.
7. Recovery Plan
   Patients must have a recovery plan prepared before the TAVR procedure. We advise the patients to plan things like who will be present with them in the hospital during the procedure, who will drive them home after the procedure, and who will act as their spokesperson in case an emergency situation arises during TAVR.
8. Post recovery recommendations
   Our doctors will also explain the details of the procedure before and the dos & don’ts following the TAVR. The aim is to keep the patients informed of the risk and benefits of the procedure and guide them throughout the procedure.

Benefits of the TAVR Procedure

TAVR is exceedingly beneficial in a number of ways for patients with aortic stenosis.

1. It is a minimally invasive non-surgical procedure.
2. It can successfully help in restoring blood flow to the heart.
3. It is a good option for people who are not eligible for open heart valve surgery.
4. The procedure can reduce the discomforting symptoms of aortic stenosis, including shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue etc.
5. TAVR can reduce the risk of heart failure.
6. The procedure allows for quicker recovery and shorter hospital stays.
7. Minimally invasive procedures like TAVR use tiny incisions and therefore leave no scar and, as a result, cause less pain and trauma

Eligibility

Our experienced cardiologists at Metro Group of Hospitals will perform a series of tests and screenings to ensure that the patient is eligible for the procedure. The doctors will also take the detailed medical history of the patient and check if they have any other medical conditions that may make them ineligible for the TAVR procedure.

Some of the most common tests done for Aortic Stenosis patients include:

• Carotid Ultrasound.
• Catheterization/Angiogram of the Heart
• CT scans of Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis
• Doppler Ultrasound of the Carotid Arteries
• Echocardiogram
• EKG
• Pulmonary Function Test

Some factors that play an essential role in deciding the eligibility of a patient for the TAVR procedure include their age, life expectancy, current health status, obesity, medical history, and the condition of the arteries. A thorough examination of the patient will help the heart team decide if the patient requires open surgery or a minimally invasive procedure.

Who is not eligible?

Based on the screening, our certified heart team will decide if a patient is ineligible for the TAVR procedure. Some factors that may disqualify someone for TAVR are:

1. Existing medical conditions like cancer, kidney disease, lung disorders etc.
2. Ongoing infections.
3. Obesity
4. Old age
5. Allergy to anaesthesia or anticoagulants
6. Allergies to metals or radio-imaging agents

At Metro hospitals, a certified team of heart specialists and well-trained nursing staff will help the patients throughout the procedure, from diagnosis to the post-surgical recovery period. We encourage our patients to freely ask any queries that they might have regarding the procedure. Our specialists are available to answer all patients’ queries at all times.