Currently, Thailand has fully entered an aging society, leading to an increasing detection of age-related degenerative diseases. One of these is valve degeneration, where the heart valve loses flexibility and accumulates calcified fat, causing the valve to not open and close properly. This results in severe valve stenosis, commonly found in the aortic valve, which is the valve between the left ventricle and the aorta. This condition prevents adequate blood pumping to various parts of the body. Generally, this disease is asymptomatic, but once symptoms appear, they are often severe and life-threatening.
What is the TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) innovation? TAVI is an innovative valve replacement procedure performed via catheterization without surgery. It is suitable for patients with severe stenosis of the aortic valve, which is the valve between the left ventricle and the aorta that supplies blood to the body. Most stenosis cases are caused by valve degeneration (sclerodegenerative), while a minority are due to congenital valve abnormalities or defects.
The TAVI treatment involves inserting a catheter through the femoral artery in the groin, then using a tissue valve attached to a special stent, which is guided to the aortic valve position via a delivery system. The artificial valve is then expanded to replace the original valve. This method avoids surgical incisions on the chest or under the breast as in standard or thoracoscopic surgery, leaving only a small wound in the groin from the catheter insertion.
Who is suitable for transcatheter aortic valve replacement?
- Elderly patients
- Patients with severe aortic valve stenosis
- Patients with underlying conditions such as lung disease, aortic artery stiffness, or previous heart surgery
- Patients with high surgical risk as assessed by a physician
- Patients expected to live longer than 1 year
- Patients not in advanced stages of cancer
Advantages of the procedure
- Faster recovery due to less pain at the wound site, as there is no need for open chest surgery
- Beneficial for elderly patients or those with underlying diseases who may not tolerate prolonged major surgery
- Fewer complications such as infection, kidney failure, and lower risk of death
- Operation time is less than 2 hours
- Reduces the rate of hospital readmission
“The Heart and Vascular Disease Center is equipped with a team of doctors and multidisciplinary specialists dedicated to treating severe aortic valve stenosis.”
