The heart uses blood vessels to transport blood throughout our bodies. The aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves are the four heart valves. All four valves allow blood to flow from one area to another. The mitral and tricuspid valves transport blood from the upper chambers of the heart to the lower chambers of the heart. 

The aortic and pulmonary valves transport blood to the lungs and the rest of the body via the ventricles. In some cases, one or more of the valves don’t open or close properly. This can cause the blood flow from your heart to your body to be disrupted.

• Aortic Valve Stenosis: Aortic valve stenosis (AS) occurs when the aortic valve narrows or no longer opens properly. In this case, the heart has to work harder against the narrowed valve to pump the required amount of blood into the aorta.
• Key Signs & Symptoms: Symptoms of aortic stenosis include chest pain or tightness with activity (angina), dizziness, and fatigue, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat and swelling in the legs.
• Diagnosis: A cardiologist will typically diagnose this condition based on your symptoms and one or more diagnostic tests, such as an echocardiogram, CT scan, stress test, ECG, blood test, and heart rate monitoring.

Aortic Stenosis Management & Treatment:

Your cardiologist can offer you treatment including the following:

1. Medication: If you are having no or mild symptoms, your doctor may prescribe you medications along with periodic check-ups.
2. Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement /Open HeartSurgery: The patient is placed under general anaesthesia and the breast bone is cut open. The surgeon will then completely remove the diseased aortic valve and place a new valve. The heart is then restarted and the chest incision is closed.
3. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): It is a minimally invasive, catheter-based technique during which the doctor replaces the patient’s diseased valve with a bioprosthetic valve. The TAVR procedure has numerous benefits, such as a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, reduced pain and anxiety, no chest scarring, and improved heart function.

How TAVR procedure done?

The aortic valve will be replaced with a tissue valve. A metal frame holds the tissue in place. The thigh (femoral artery) is numbed before administering either a local anaesthetic with sedation or a general anaesthetic.

The balloon catheter is inserted into your heart and placed within the aortic valve opening. The doctor inserts a new aortic valve into the patient through a metal mesh tube that holds the valve in place. Depending on the type of valve used, the new valve expands on its own or with the help of a balloon. The new valve is designed to push your damaged aortic valve aside. The balloon is deflated and removed, and the new valve immediately begins to function.

TAVR offers a treatment alternative for severe AS patients who are not contenders for SAVR due to prohibitive risks linked with age-related weakness and severe co-morbidities.

Managing Your Medications after TAVR/SAVR:

Your doctor will prescribe certain medications following TAVR. It is easier to stick to a treatment plan if you understand how critical it is to your overall health. You can improve the health of your heart and body by altering your lifestyle, eating habits, and environment. And only you’re in charge.

The TAVR PROCEDURE is a newer, safer, and more effective procedure than open-heart surgery AVR. It allows many elderly patients to avoid open heart surgery and stay in the hospital for a shorter period of time. The patient can resume normal activities the following day.