Hope is where the heart is. And finding out that you have a heart disease with limited treatment options can be disheartening in more ways than one.

Aortic stenosis, a condition that usually develops later in life, affects the aortic valve on the left side of the heart, thereby impacting the heart’s inherent blood pumping abilities and leads to overworking of the heart itself. In severe cases of aortic stenosis, the leaflets of the valve do not close or open completely usually due to stiffening or thickening, and often causes a range of debilitating side effects.

Due to other medical and health complications that often come with an advanced age, many patients are considered high-risk for traditional open-heart aortic valve replacement surgery that was once the only course of treatment for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Symptoms and treatment alike could adversely impact quality of life, physically and emotionally. However, there is hope! Hope placed in the care of modern-day medical tech for patients suffering from aortic stenosis. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has proved to be life changing for those who are already struggling with the complications of this cardiac disease and the emotional toll of having found out that they aren’t candidates for open-heart surgery, especially the elderly. Factors that could affect risk level include but are not limited to age, history of heart disease, medical conditions like diabetes and existence of kidney or liver disease.

TAVI can help alleviate symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain, due to the restoration of normal blood flow to the organs. It is a minimally invasive treatment alternative for those considered high or extreme risk for traditional surgery. It is a less invasive alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement and can reduce symptoms and improve the lives of patients with this debilitating condition. This implantation procedure offers the benefits of reduced hospitalization time, with occasionally just one to two days in the ICU, as opposed to generally longer duration of hospitalization with traditional open-heart aortic valve replacement surgery. A majority of patients experience meaningful improvement after the TAVI procedure. Adequate rest and rehabilitation as required on a case-by-case basis, further helps hasten recovery time once home.

Disclaimer: The information mentioned in this document is only suggestive /for patient education and shall not be considered as a substitute for doctor’s advice or recommendations from Abbott. Please consult your doctor for more information.