An operation using the TAVI technique allows the heart to regain its proper function, which had been compromised by the malfunction of an essential component of its system.
The delicate and complex structure of the heart enables this particular organ to pump the right amount of blood (and therefore food) to all tissues and organs of the body.
Internally it is divided into four chambers: right atrium and right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle. This division is functional for the direction of circulation: venous blood reaches the right atrium, the right ventricle carries it to the lungs, the left atrium receives it oxygenated, and the left ventricle pushes it to the various parts of the body.
The correct “direction of travel” of the circulation is ensured by the functionality of four basic elements, namely the heart valves: these are thin but very strong membranes that open and close with each heartbeat, according to a very precise coordination. There are two atrioventricular valves (mitral valve and tricuspid valve) and two semilunar valves (pulmonary valve and aortic valve).
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) in Turkey provides an advanced solution for patients with aortic valve dysfunction, offering a minimally invasive alternative to traditional heart surgery. The aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and the aorta, plays a critical role in directing blood flow to oxygenate the body. The heart’s pumping function relies on the precise coordination of the cardiac cycle, with the opening and closing of valves to regulate blood flow during systole and diastole. When the aortic valve suffers irreversible damage, TAVI allows surgeons to implant a new valve via a catheter, avoiding the need for sternotomy, halting cardiac activity, or using extracorporeal circulation. In Turkey, TAVI is increasingly recognized as a safer, effective option for treating aortic valve disease.
Why TAVI is necessary
In fact, TAVAR procedures are becoming very useful in cases of aortic valve stenosis , i.e. pathological narrowing of the valve: a condition from which around 1 million people suffer in Italy alone.
The consequences of this obstruction can be a reduction in the amount of blood flowing to the organs (particularly during periods of exertion) and hypertrophy (enlargement) of the left ventricle, which has to use more force to expel blood in response to a failure of the left ventricle. the valve.
This pathology can have a very negative impact on the heart’s ability to contract, leading in the most severe cases to heart failure and the risk of sudden death . One of the most subtle characteristics of this pathology is that it remains asymptomatic for a long time, as the heart is able to compensate for valve dysfunction. Later, the patient may complain of symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain and fatigue even after very light exertion, which may sometimes be followed by syncope.
It is the echocardiogram that enables the physician to diagnose the pathology with certainty. As the years go by, aortic valve stenosis is more and more likely to develop, to the point where it is diagnosed after the age of 75 in 1 in 8 patients.
Understanding aortic valve stenosis and the role of TAVI in treatment
With age, the valve leaflets become thicker and undergo calcification, making them less likely to open properly. However, it is not unlikely to affect younger subjects, notably due to congenital causes (a valve characterized by two flaps instead of three) or rheumatic pathologies.
It is not uncommon for aortic valve stenosis to coexist with aortic insufficiency in the same subject: this pathology prevents the aortic valve from closing properly, and can also remain silent for several years before causing dyspnea, dizziness and arrhythmias. The possible and alarming consequences can be the same, and the role of diagnosis is fundamental: auscultation of the heart generally identifies the typical “heart murmur”, and an echocardiogram and other in-depth examinations are necessary.
In the presence of symptoms and to avoid the most worrying consequences, measures must be taken, but some patients cannot undergo conventional surgery, as complications would expose them to too many risks: among these are subjects of very advanced age or who suffer from other pathologies (renal failure, tumors, respiratory problems).
TAVI: asafer alternative to traditional aortic valve surgery
This is where TAVI becomes the preferred option.
Traditional surgery involves a series of high-risk procedures for a vulnerable patient, who is constantly connected to the heart-lung machine: this instrument isolates the heart from the bloodstream, removing venous blood, passing it through an oxygenator and pumping it into the patient’s arterial system. During the operation, the sternum must be divided to reach the heart and open the pericardium, finally reaching the valve to be replaced. The operation is performed in the operating theatre, strictly under total anaesthesia.
Research, experience and technology have subsequently identified TAVR as an excellent option also for low- and intermediate-risk patients, with further possibilities for development and evolution.
