Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) involves inserting a catheter into a blood vessel in your upper leg or chest and passing it towards your aortic valve.
The catheter is then used to guide and fix a replacement valve over the top of the old one.
The main advantages of this technique are that the heart doesn’t need to be stopped, so a heart-lung (bypass) machine doesn’t need to be used, and it avoids making a large cut (incision) in your chest.
This puts less strain on the body and may mean TAVI is more suitable for people who are too frail to have a conventional valve replacement.
Research suggests the procedure may be as effective as surgery for people in whom surgery would be difficult or risky, and it may result in a faster recovery.
But there’s little evidence to suggest it’s appropriate for people who are suitable for surgery and at a low risk of complications.
Possible complications of TAVI are similar to those of a conventional valve replacement, although the risk of having a stroke after TAVI is higher.
