The aortic valve is one of four heart valves and is the final one encountered by oxygenated blood as it leaves the heart. It opens with each heartbeat to allow blood to flow from the heart to the body and is located between the left ventricle and the aorta to ensure that oxygen-rich blood does not flow back into the left ventricle. In several scenarios, some issues can be developed causing narrowing of the valve, which prevents or slows the flow of blood from the heart to the body.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a minimally invasive medical procedure that aims to replace the valve without removing the damaged original valve, through a catheter tube. In most times, the catheter is inserted into a large blood vessel in the groin or through a small incision in the chest. In order to benefit from this procedure in the most optimized way, a special Transcatheter aortic valve was designed for this operation.
TAVI is conducted to treat aortic valve stenosis. This condition restricts blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body, leading to symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and dizziness.
When is TAVI the Optimal Option?
Some cases are more difficult than others, where ordinary heart surgery is dangerous because of its post-operation complications. This is where surgeons prefer the TAVI option to replace the aortic valve. These cases include elderly patients or those who suffer from chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, previous surgeries or other health-related concerns.
In addition to the fact that the operation takes one hour, the patient can leave the hospital the day after, without huge side effects. Also, surgeons use topical anesthesia rather than the general that is used in traditional heart surgery cases.
A Successful TAVI Case at Al Khalidi Hospital
We combine efforts to always be a leader in the medical sector, not only in Jordan but also across the region. Thus we implement modern medical procedures in our hospital constantly. Dr. Hussam Saleh Al-Surdi, a specialized cardiologist Head of the Interventional/ Structural Cardiology department at Rush University in Chicago, has conducted TAVI operation for a 90-year-old patient who suffered from stenosis of the aortic valve. The operation was a huge success where the patient experienced a great improvement and a short recovery period.
