TAVI gives new hope for patients at CK Birla Hospitals - BM Birla Heart Research Centre

The elderly is at greater risk of heart attacks. Besides this, cholesterol levels tend to fluctuate significantly leaving people with borderline diabetes at greater cardiovascular risk during the colder months.

With almost 95% success rate, TAVI is considered to be the gold standard treatment for older and frail patients suffering from aortic-stenosis, who have been excluded from under-going open heart surgery before due to high risk.

The advanced technology of TAVI or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement has given hope of a new life to these geriatric populations suffering from vascular disease. The traditional method of open heart surgery has a higher risk of complications and mortality for elderly patients with multiple co-morbidities.

The heart has four valves - mitral valve and tricuspid valve control blood flow from the atria to the ventricles, while aortic valve and pulmonary valve control blood flow out of the ventricles. In short, the basic function of valves is to allow seamless flow of blood through the heart. When any of those valves are dysfunctional then previously an open-heart surgery was performed to replace them.

Now with TAVI procedure the valves can be substituted without opening the heart. This procedure is done through the leg artery via groin, where a catheter is passed all the way to the heart. By insertion of a prosthetic catheter through the circulatory system, the old valve is replaced with the new valve which immediately starts working for regulating blood flow.

As older people are more prone to be diagnosed with aortic-stenosis such cardio-vascular disorders can be treated with TAVI or Surgery. However cardiac surgery creates a fear factor and half of the patients opt out of surgery because of fear of recovery, long hospitalization stays and Surgical trauma. Though the most widely known treatment option is surgical valve replacement, approximately 40% of elderly AS patients cannot opt for the surgery as they may be in poor health or too frail to withstand it.

For these patients, a minimally invasive, cutting-edge treatment, TAVI which has now been proved to be one of the most cutting-edge surgical treatments by medical community across the world seems to be ideal. With overall technological advancement, the mortality rate is decreasing quickly and people are living longer these days.

Stressing the need for greater awareness about TAVI, Dr. Anil Mishra added, “At present, TAVI remains an innovative, cutting-edge treatment that many patients remain unaware of. Yet the benefits are immense for those who need it and cannot avail of surgical means of treatment. TAVI avoids surgery and is done just like angioplasty leaving no cuts or scars   In my clinical experience, only 1% of the elderly patients in Kolkata who require it are benefitting from it. By increasing awareness and making it more acceptable to common mass we can ensure more such patients enjoy higher quality of life in their sunset years.”

“Over the years TAVI has emerged to be a life-saving surgery to numerous elderly patients across the world and India who are suffering from aortic - stenosis. In Eastern India, we are committed to provide quality cardiac care with our highly skilled doctors, world-class infrastructure, and extensive successful implementation of their research. We are finally offering this progressive surgical technique for a much better quality of life to patients. Clinical excellence, and ensuring best clinical outcome to our patients seems to be our focus”, says Dr Simmardeep Gill, COO, CK Birla Hospitals, BM Birla Heart Research

  Giving an overview of the patient suffering from aortic - stenosis the symptoms of AS include pain or tightness in chest, feelings of dizziness or fainting, tiredness, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats or heart palpitations and swelling in legs.

Many patients may not experience these symptoms until the disease reaches high severity, at which stage the symptoms can significantly impact their quality of life.Dr. Anil Mishra, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, BMB Department of Cardiology, said, “Degenerative aortic valve disease affects over 7% to 9% (percent) of all patients over the age of 70 years in India. Over 40% of patients do not opt for AS treatment in Kolkata, the impact on the elderly who go untreated is immense leading to compromised quality of life and even sudden death. Low awareness about TAVI in patients as well in the medical fraternity leads to open heart surgery”.

The following points to be kept in mind while patients choose to go for TAVI procedure:

1.           Always opt of a renowned physician who has hand-on knowledge and expertise on TAVI surgery

2.           Verify the credibility of the hospital and its entire infrastructure

3.           Go through a proper pre-operative risk evaluation

4.           Check your co-morbidities

5.           Follow your post-surgery routine and therapy religiously. Go for regular check-ups as recommended by your doctor