Which patients might benefit from transcatheter aortic valve replacement?

Many patients who have a narrowing in the opening of the aortic valve might benefit from TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation). Craig Smith, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon, teaches us why TAVI is recommended.

Transcript

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Once you have reached the point that you have critical aortic stenosis, then potentially anyone could benefit from having the valve replaced, as it will extend

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life and relieve symptoms. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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Potentially, any patient with critical aortic stenosis could benefit. Critical aortic stenosis is defined

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by the degree of narrowing and the opening of the valve. So it's a problem because the heart has to pump very hard

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to push blood through a small opening, and we have ways to define that. Once you have reached the point that you have critical aortic stenosis, then potentially anyone

00:45

could benefit from having the valve replaced, because it will extend life and relieve symptoms.

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In our current understanding of TAVI, it is best applied in patients who are at highest risk for surgery or who are at such high risk

01:02

that surgery makes no sense. What's less clear is where it becomes a better trade off

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compared to lower risk surgery. And right now, it's clearly excellent in the high risk population, less clear

01:19

in lower risk populations.