What is TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation)?
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a minimally invasive procedure for replacing a diseased aortic valve. TAVI involves delivering a new valve via a catheter through the arteries, especially the femoral artery, without open-heart surgery.
Types of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
The most common approach for TAVI is transfemoral (through the femoral artery in the groin), used in about 80-90% of cases, because it is less invasive and allows for a quick recovery.
Other types based on access include:
- Transfemoral (TF)
- Transcarotid (through the carotid artery in the neck)
- Axillary/Subclavian (through arteries near the shoulder)
- Transapical (through the apex of the heart via the chest)
- Transaortic (directly through the aorta via chest infection)
- Transcaval (from the femoral vein crossing into the aorta)
- Suprasternal-Brachiocephalic (through the upper chest artery)
Each of these types has its own advantages and disadvantages regarding invasiveness, risk of complications, and suitability depending on patient anatomy and condition.
There are mainly two types of valves used in TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation): Ballon-expandable valves, which are mounted on a balloon catheter and expanded at the site of the native valve to push the diseased valve aside.
Self-expanding valves are made from a self-expanding material like nitinol that expands once deployed to anchor into place.
Examination tools for TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) include risk scores like the Euroscore and STS score, which help in measuring surgical risk, along with imaging techniques and judgment of the clinical team.
Echocardiography is the main imaging technique used to confirm the severity of stenosis and evaluate the valve anatomy. Additional tests include CT scans, coronary angiography, and pulmonary functional tests.
Patients who are recommended TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) have severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, high or prohibitive surgical risk for open-heart surgery, anatomical suitability, reasonable life expectancy, and multidisciplinary team evaluation.
| Procedure Name | Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) |
|---|---|
| Type of Surgery | Minimally invasive catheter-based surgery |
| Type of Anesthesia | Local anesthesia/Conscious sedition |
| Procedure Duration | 1-2 hours |
| Recovery Duration | Few weeks |













Appointment
Call
More