TAVI has ushered in a new age in treating aortic valve diseases: how it works and who it is for

By the time Mr. Saravanan turned 87, he had a severely narrowed aortic valve that was impacting his daily activities to an extent where he required oxygen support for about a month. Post the successful completion of a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure, however, he recovered at an impressive pace. In just four days, he regained the strength to venture outdoors and cast his vote for the municipal elections. He lived an independent lifestyle till he crossed the milestone of 93 years old and finally breathed his last due to a fall while playing with his grandchildren.

Mr. Saravanan’s journey tells us the story of how far medical advancement in treating aortic valve disease has progressed. For those who qualify, TAVI offers a unique technique to replace the faulty aortic valve without undergoing the traditional open-heart surgery.