Cardiology Specialist Dr. Samet Uyar at Private Gazi Hospital stated that with evolving technology, aortic valve replacements can nowadays be performed with an angiographic procedure called TAVI, saying, "Very successful results can be obtained with this method, and it provides satisfying outcomes in suitable patients who carry a risk for surgery.""
Noting that the aortic valve is the valve between the heart and the aorta, the largest artery coming out of the heart, Dr. Samet Uyar said, "Today, non-surgical repair interventions are developing for the tricuspid and mitral valves of the heart. However, non-surgical angiographic treatments for pulmonary and aortic valves have been successfully performed for many years. The non-surgical placement of the aortic valve among these is called TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation)."
Aortic Valve Replacement
Observing that the aortic valve in a normal healthy person is between 2-4 square centimeters, Dr. Samet Uyar said, "Usually, with age, conditions like hardening of the arteries also affect the aortic valve, causing calcification of the aortic valve in some patients. When the valve becomes calcified, difficulty arises for the heart to send blood to the aorta. The patient describes this condition as shortness of breath, getting tired easily, and in advanced stages, chest pain and even fainting. Seeing these symptoms can lead to fatal results. Even if there are no serious complaints, close follow-up is necessary. Narrowing of the aortic valve is diagnosed by heart ultrasound (echocardiography)."
Performed by Angiographic Method
"Nowadays, we can successfully replace narrowed, calcified, and malfunctioning aortic valves with angiographic methods," said Dr. Samet Uyar. "While this procedure was initially applied to elderly patients or those with heart failure who could not tolerate anesthesia and had accompanying chronic health problems, it is also applied to younger and healthier people with moderate or even low surgical risk, especially in economically well-off countries. The procedure is non-surgical, usually stitch-less, and performed in the angiography room with the patient given only mild sedation and remaining conscious, occasionally able to speak. A biological valve placed in the center of a large stent is advanced in a closed position through the patient's groin artery towards the heart using a thin plastic tube-like material called a catheter. After the stented valve is placed inside the patient's own calcified and damaged heart valve in the appropriate position, the valve is opened with angiography. The valve begins to function as soon as it is opened. The groin entry site is closed from the skin with previously placed closure devices."
Fast Return to Daily Life
Noting that the patient is generally kept under observation in the coronary intensive care unit for one night, Dr. Samet Uyar said, "Generally, they are discharged within 2-3 days. Since it is non-surgical, the patient returns to their normal life within 2-3 days without feeling any pain. They need to use blood-thinning medication for a certain period. It is an angiographic procedure that is generally well-tolerated by patients and which we now perform routinely."