Introduction

What is Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)?

When repair is not possible, the valve is replaced with an artificial valve. Most valves are made of animal material (tissue valves). TAVI is a procedure that gives you a new valve without open heart surgery. Using a catheter, a new valve is pushed into an artery starting in your groin. It moves through your chest into your heart and old aortic valve. When it’s in the right place, the valve is opened and your old aortic valve is pushed to the side. The TAVI valve works immediately.

Aortic stenosis

There are four valves in your heart. Heart valves act like one-way doors: they let blood flow in and out of different sections of your heart. The fourth valve, called the aortic valve, takes blood from the left side of your heart and sends it out to your body. When this valve becomes stiff, thick or scarred, less blood can be pushed out. Blood can be pushed backwards into your lungs when the valve opening becomes too small and thick. The heart then has to work harder to get blood to the body with every heartbeat. This leads to serious symptoms and health issues such as difficulty breathing, fainting, swelling in your feet, fatigue and sometimes chest pain. Changes in blood pressure, congestive heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction are the most common results. When aortic stenosis is severe, you need a new valve.

View a timeline of care for patients having TAVI »

	First TAVI clinic appointment The Structural Heart Clinic will call you with the time for your appointment. Location: Structural Heart Clinic A-wing, 2nd floor, room A2 08
	Diagnostic test: echocardiogram Location: E-wing, 2nd floor, room E2 50 or A-wing, 2nd floor, room A2 53 TAVI office will tell you the location of this appointment.
	Diagnostic test: blood testing Location: Blood Clinic M-wing, ground floor, room MG 202
	Diagnostic test: CT gated aorta Location: A-wing, ground floor, room AG 256
	Diagnostic test: coronary angiogram Location: Outpatient Cath Lab, B-wing, 3rd floor, room B3 12
	Second TAVI clinic appointment The Structural Heart Clinic will call you for an appointment to discuss your tests. Location: Structural Heart Clinic A-wing, 2nd floor, room A2 08
	3 to 4 weeks before your TAVI The TAVI Clinic will phone to tell you the date of your TAVI procedure.
	Pre-anesthesia assessment Location: Pre-anesthesia Clinic B-wing, 1st floor, room 11 (B1 11)
	TAVI procedure Outpatient Cath Lab B-wing, 3rd floor, room B3 12
	1 to 2 days after your TAVI Discharge date.
	4 to 6 weeks after discharge TAVI follow-up appointment. Location: Structural Heart Clinic A-wing, 2nd floor, room A2 08
	1 year after discharge One-year follow-up. Location: Structural Heart Clinic A-wing, 2nd floor, room A2 08