Catheter-based aortic valve implantation (TAVI)

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The main principle of this new method of symptomatic aortic valve stenosis treatment is the percutaneous transcatheter implantation of its biological prosthesis.

Put in the gauze in a contracted form and fixed at the end of catheter, the prosthesis advances through the vascular system either transarterially (through the femoral artery) or transapically (through the apex of the heart) to the aortic valve where it is fixed and unfolded. The possibility of the positive outcome of such a procedure is 95%.

For patients with high operative risk this method is not less effective than the substitution of the aortic valve by means of operative intervention. Technical achievements as well as constantly developing skills of implant surgeons in recent years led to a considerable reduction of complications. It is expected that in the future the innovative TAVI-systems will simplify the treatment of aortic valve stenosis, aortic valve insufficiency, and therapy of degeneratively changed biological prosthesis of aortic and mitral valves. Even nowadays the further development and broadening of the indications spectrum is in contemplation which will lead to further enhancement of medical assistance and improvement of the patients‘ treatment quality.