Mrs S Vijaya Lakshmi - Your TAVR Journey Guide
UnderstandingYourHeartValveTreatment
byRaghuC
Understanding Aortic Stenosis
Aorticstenosishappenswhenyouraorticvalvebecomesnarrowandstiff,likeadoorthatwon'topenalltheway.Thisvalve sitsbetweenyourheart'smainpumpingchamberandthelargebloodvesselthatcarriesbloodtoyourbody.Whenthe valvedoesn'topenproperly,yourhearthastoworkmuchhardertopumpbloodthroughthenarrowopening.Overtime, thisextraworkcanmakeyourheartmusclethickandweak.
How Did This Happen?
Age-relatedwearandtear(mostcommon):Justlikeotherpartsofourbody,heartvalvescanwearoutovertime.After manyyearsofopeningandclosingmillionsoftimes,thevalveleafletscanbecomethickandstiff.
Calciumbuildupovertime:Asweage,calciumdepositscanbuilduponthevalveleaflets,makingthemhardand preventingthemfromopeningfully.Thisissimilartohowpipescangetcloggedwithmineraldeposits.
Bornwithvalveproblems(bicuspidvalve):Somepeoplearebornwithanaorticvalvethathasonlytwoleafletsinstead ofthenormalthree.Thismakesthevalvemorelikelytowearoutearlierinlife.
Previousrheumaticfever(rare):Inrarecases,childhoodinfectionsthatcausedrheumaticfevercandamageheart valves.Thisismuchlesscommontodayduetobetterantibiotictreatment.
The Natural Course of Aortic Stenosis
What Happens Over Time?
Early stage: No symptoms, valve mildly narrowed
Duringthisstage,youfeelcompletelynormal.Your hearteasilypumpsbloodthroughtheslightlynarrow valve,andyoucandoallyourusualactivitieswithout anyproblems.
Severe stage: Significant narrowing, symptoms may start
Thevalveopeningisnowquitesmall.Yourheartworks harder,andyoumaybegintonoticesymptomsduring exerciseorstrenuousactivities.
Warning Signs That Brought You Here
Chest pain or tightness (especially with activity)
Youmayfeelpressure,squeezing,orpaininyour chestwhenyouexertyourself.Thishappens becauseyourheartmuscleisn'tgettingenough oxygen-richblood.
Feeling
dizzy or fainting (especially when standing up)
Whenyourheartcan'tpumpenoughbloodtoyour brain,youmayfeellightheaded,dizzy,orevenfaint, particularlywhenyouchangepositionsquickly.
Why Treatment Can't Wait
Moderate stage: Some narrowing, still no symptoms usually
Thevalveopeningbecomessmaller,butyourstrong heartmusclestillpushesbloodthrougheffectively Mostpeoplestillfeelfineduringthisstage.
Critical stage: Dangerous narrowing, symptoms worsen quickly
Thevalveopeningisverysmall.Yourheartstrugglesto pumpenoughblood,andsymptomsbecome noticeableevenduringeverydayactivitieslikeclimbing stairsorwalking.
Shortness of breath (during exercise or daily activities)
Youmightfindyourselfgettingwindedmoreeasily thanbefore,evenwithactivitiesthatusedtobeeasy foryoulikewalkingupstairsordoinghousehold chores.
Extreme fatigue with normal activities
Simpletasksthatnevertiredyoubeforenowleave youfeelingexhaustedbecauseyourbodyisn't gettingthebloodflowitneeds.
Oncesymptomsbegin,aorticstenosistypicallygetsworsequicklywithouttreatment.However,thisisactuallygoodnews becauseitmeanswe'veidentifiedtheproblemattherighttime.WithpropertreatmentlikeTAVR,patientsconsistently returntoactive,normallivesandoftenfeelbetterthantheyhaveinyears.Thekeyistreatingitbeforeyourheartmuscle becomespermanentlydamaged.
Your Treatment Options
Non-Surgical Treatments (Limited Effectiveness)
Whilemedicationscanhelpmanagesomesymptomstemporarily,theycannotfixtheunderlyingproblem.Bloodpressure medicationsmighthelpyoufeelabitbetterbyreducingtheworkyourhearthastodo,butmedicationscannotmakethe valveopeninglarger.Thevalvewillcontinuetonarrowovertime,andsymptomswilleventuallyworsendespitemedication. Thisiswhyvalvereplacementistheonlydefinitivetreatmentforsevereaorticstenosis.
Surgical Options Available to You
Traditional Open-Heart Surgery (SAVR)
Surgicalaorticvalvereplacementinvolvesopeningthe chest,stoppingthehearttemporarily,andreplacingthe valvewhileyou'reonaheart-lungmachine.Thisisan excellenttreatmentthathashelpedmillionsofpatients, andit'sstillthebestoptionforyounger,healthierpatients whocantoleratemajorsurgerywell.
TAVR - Your Recommended Treatment
We'verecommendedTAVRforyoubecauseitoffers excellentresultswithamuchlessinvasiveapproach. Insteadofopeningyourchest,weinsertthenewvalve throughasmallpunctureinyourlegartery.You'llrecover muchfaster,typicallygoinghomein1-3daysinsteadofa weekormore.TAVRhasbeenproventobejustaseffective astraditionalsurgeryforpatientslikeyou,withtheadded benefitsoffasterrecoveryandlesstraumatoyourbody.
About Your TAVR Procedure
What is TAVR?
TAVRstandsforTranscatheterAorticValveReplacement.Insteadofopen-heartsurgery,weinsertanewvalvethrougha smalltube(catheter)thatgoesthroughabloodvesselinyourleg.Thinkofitlikereplacingapartinsideamachinewithout havingtotakethewholemachineapart.Thenewvalveiscompressedsmallenoughtofitthroughthecatheter,then expandedintoplaceinsideyouroldvalve.
How the New Valve Works
Yournewvalveismadefromspeciallytreatedanimaltissue(usuallycoworpig)thathasbeenprocessedtobecompletely safeandcompatiblewithyourbody.Itfunctionsexactlylikeyouroriginalhealthyvalvedid,openingandclosingsmoothly witheachheartbeat.Thesevalvesaredesignedtolastmanyyearsandhaveanexcellenttrackrecord.Yourbodyaccepts themverywell,andtheydon'trequireyoutotakeblood-thinningmedicationsforlifelikemechanicalvalvesdo.
Why You're a Good Candidate for TAVR
We'vecarefullyevaluatedyourspecificsituation,andTAVRisidealforyoubecauseofyourage,overallhealthcondition,and thecurrentfunctionofyourheart.Yourheartmuscleisstillstrongenoughtobenefitsignificantlyfromtheprocedure.Based onyourlifestylegoalsandpreferenceforalessinvasiveapproach,TAVRwillallowyoutoreturntotheactivitiesyouenjoy muchmorequicklythantraditionalsurgerywould.
TAVI vs SAVR: Patient-Friendly Treatment
Guide
Yourdoctorhascarefullyconsideredyourindividualsituationtodeterminethebesttreatmentoptionforyouraorticvalve. Age,overallhealth,andotherfactorsallplayimportantrolesinthisdecision.
YourSituationBestTreatmentOptionWhyThisTreatment
Age80orolderTAVI(Throughbloodvessel)"Lessinvasiveprocedure"Faster recovery"Lowersurgeryrisk
Ageunder60SAVR(Openheartsurgery)"Longer-lastingresults"Betterfor younger,healthypatients"More durablevalve
Age60-80Eitheroption(Doctordecides)"Dependsonyourhealth"Your preferencesmatter"Teamof doctorswillrecommend
VeryhighsurgeryriskTAVI(Throughbloodvessel)"Saferforfragilepatients"Cango homesooner"Lessstressonbody
NeedotherheartsurgerySAVR(Openheartsurgery)"Fixmultipleproblemsatonce" Moreefficientapproach"One recoveryperiod
Nosymptomsbutseverevalve disease SAVR(Openheartsurgery)"Preventfutureproblems"Better long-termoutcomes"Protectheart function
YourdoctorhasrecommendedTAVIforyoubasedonyourspecifichealthprofileandneeds.Thisminimallyinvasive approachoffersthebestbalanceofsafetyandeffectivenessinyourcase.
What to Expect
TAVI Procedure
Smalltubeinsertedthroughbloodvesselinyourleg
Nochestincisionneeded
Doneunderlightsedation
Gohomein2-3days
Backtonormalactivitiesin1-2weeks
SAVR Procedure
Traditionalopen-heartsurgery
Chestincisionrequired
Doneundergeneralanesthesia
Hospitalstay5-7days
Fullrecoverytakes6-8weeks
Key Points to Remember
7Yourageandoverallhealtharethemainfactorsinchoosingtreatment
7Bothproceduresareveryeffectiveforfixingheartvalveproblems
7Yourheartteamwillhelpyoudecidewhat'sbestforyoursituation
7Askquestions-understandingyouroptionshelpsyoumakethebestchoice
Benefits of TAVR
Immediate Benefits (Within Days)
RelieffromshortnessofbreathMostpatientsnotice theycanbreathemoreeasilywithinthefirstfewdays aftertheprocedure
IncreasedenergylevelsAsyourheartdoesn'thaveto workashard,you'lllikelyfeelmoreenergetic
AbilitytowalklongerdistancesSimpleactivitieslike walkingwillbecomeeasierandmoreenjoyable
BettersleepatnightManypatientssleepbetter becausethey'renotwakingupshortofbreath
Additional Procedure Benefits
Faster recovery
1-3dayhospitalstaycomparedtotraditional surgery
Long-term Benefits (Weeks to Months)
ReturntonormaldailyactivitiesGardening,household chores,andhobbiesbecomeenjoyableagain
ImprovedqualityoflifeOverallsenseofwell-beingand abilitytoparticipateinlifeactivities
ReducedriskofheartfailureYourheartwon'thaveto strainagainstthenarrowvalveanymore
ExtendedlifeexpectancyStudiesshowTAVR significantlyimprovessurvivalinpatientswithsevere aorticstenosis
Less pain and discomfort
Smallincisionandminimallyinvasiveapproach
Quick return to normal activities
Mostrestrictionsliftedwithin2-4weeks
Excellent long-term results
Studiesshowcontinuedbenefitformanyyears
TAVR Risks and Safety
Common, Minor Risks (Temporary)
BruisingatcatheterinsertionsiteSomebruising aroundthelegpuncturesiteisnormalandresolvesin 1-2weeks
MildbleedingrequiringpressureOccasionallythe puncturesitemaybleedslightly,whichwecontrolwith pressure
TemporaryirregularheartbeatYourheartrhythmmay beirregularforafewdaysasitadjuststothenewvalve
Short-termfatigueSometirednessisnormalasyour bodyrecoversfromtheprocedure
How We Minimize Risks
Experienced team
8+yearsofTAVRexperiencewithskilledspecialists
Comprehensive pre-procedure evaluation
Personalizedtreatmentplanforeachpatient
Our Safety Record
99%+
Success rate
Proceduralsuccess
Uncommon but Serious Risks (Less than 25%)
StrokeWeusespecialbrainprotectiondevicesduring theproceduretominimizethisalreadylowrisk
NeedforpacemakerModernvalvedesignshave significantlyreducedthisriskcomparedtooldervalves
VascularinjuryAnyinjurytobloodvesselscantypically berepairedduringthesameprocedure
ValvemigrationWithcurrenttechnologyand technique,thisisextremelyrare
State-of-the-art technology
Latestvalvedesignsandimagingsystems
24/7 monitoring
Continuouscareandmonitoringaftertheprocedure
8+
Years of experience
PerformingTAVRprocedures
Your Role in Risk Reduction
Followingpre-procedureinstructions-Medications,fasting,andpreparation
<2%
Complication rate
Majorcomplications
100+
Procedures
SuccessfulTAVRcases
SharingcompletemedicalhistoryMedications,allergies,andpreviousprocedures
Followingpost-procedurecareRest,medications,andfollow-ups
ReportinganyconcernsimmediatelyUsingour24/7supportline
Your Hospital Journey and Recovery
Before Your Procedure
TimeframeWhatHappensYourRole
1-2weeksbeforePre-proceduretesting(CTscan, bloodwork,dentalclearance)
3daysbeforeStopcertainmedications(blood thinners)
DaybeforeLightmeal,goodnight'ssleep,start fastingatmidnight
Takeallmedicationsasprescribed, completeanyrecommendedtests
Followourspecificmedication instructionlistcarefully
Arriveearlyandwell-rested,nofood ordrinkaftermidnight
MorningofArriveathospitalfastingBringcomfortitemsandbeready foranexcellentoutcome
Day of Your Procedure Timeline
6:00 AM - Arrival and Prep
Check-inatregistration,changeintohospital gown,IVplacement,meetwithcareteam
8:00 AM - Pre-Procedure
Transporttocardiaccatheterizationlab,meet anesthesiateam,finalsafetychecks 9:00 AM - During TAVR (1-2 hours)
Comfortablysedated,catheterinsertedthrough legartery,newvalvepositionedanddeployed 11:00 AM - Recovery Begins
Transfertorecoveryarea,monitoringofvital signs,gradualawakening,familynotified
Recovery Timeline 1
Day 1
Bedrest4-6hours, monitoring,minimal pain,returntoregular diet
Day 2
Walking,echocardiogram, physicaltherapy, dischargepreparation
Day 3
Finaltests,medication review,follow-up appointmentsscheduled, goinghome
First Week
Shortwalks,lighttasks, medications,monitoring incisionsite
Yourfamilywillreceiveregularupdatesduringtheprocedure.They'llwaitinacomfortablefamilyareawithrefreshments andwillbecontactedassoonastheprocedureiscomplete.Theycantypicallyseeyouwithin2-3hoursaftertheprocedure, andmostfamiliesareamazedathowwellpatientslookandfeelimmediatelyafterTAVR.
Foranyconcernsafterdischarge,callusimmediatelyat+919000165884.
Life After TAVR
First Month Recovery
Week 1-2: Getting Back to Basics
Gradualincreaseinwalking-from10minutesto20-30minutesdaily
Noticeablereturnofenergylevels-mostpatientsfeelsignificantlybetterthanbeforetheprocedure
Healingofincisionsite-bruisingfadesandpuncturesiteclosescompletely
Fine-tuningofmedications-wemayadjustdosesbasedonhowyou'reresponding
Week 3-4: Expanding Activities
Longerwalksandlightexercise-manypatientscanwalkamileormore
Returntodrivingonceclearedbyyourdoctorandoffpainmedications
Lighthouseholdchores-cooking,laundry,lightcleaningbecomeenjoyableagain
Socialactivities-visitingfriendsandfamily,goingtorestaurants
Long-term Outlook
1-3 Months: Getting Stronger
Cardiacrehabilitationprogram-ifrecommended,thishelpsoptimizeyourrecovery
Returntonormalactivities-mostrestrictionsareliftedatyourfollow-upvisits
Significantimprovementinsymptoms-manypatientssaytheyfeelbetterthantheyhaveinyears
Regularfollow-upappointments-ensuringyournewvalvecontinuesworkingperfectly
6 Months and Beyond: Your New Normal
Fullactivityclearanceexpected-returntoallactivitiesyouenjoyedbefore
Travelandexerciseasdesired-nolimitationsonlifestyleactivities
Annualcheck-ups-simplevisitstoensurecontinuedexcellentfunction
Excellentlong-termoutlook-studiesshowcontinuedbenefitformanyyears
Activities You Can Look Forward To
Travelingtovisitfamilyandfriends-manypatientsplantripsthey'dbeenputtingoff
Gardeningandyardwork-activitiesthatrequirestaminabecomeenjoyableagain
Exerciseandfitnessactivities-walking,swimming,golf,tennisasdesired
Hobbiesandrecreationalactivities-woodworking,crafts,sports,whateveryouenjoy
Playingwithgrandchildren-havingtheenergytobeactivewithfamily
Medication Management
Blood Thinners
Aspirin81mgdailytypicallyforlife-helpspreventbloodclots
Clopidogrel(Plavix)75mgdailyfor3-6months-importantfornewvalvehealing
Regularmonitoringnotusuallyrequiredwiththesemedications
Fewdietaryrestrictionscomparedtostrongerbloodthinners
Heart Medications
Continuemostcurrentheartmedications-bloodpressureandcholesterolmedications
Possibledosereductionsasyourheartfunctionimproves
Regularfollow-uptooptimizeyourmedicationregimen
Gradualsimplificationofyourmedicationroutineasappropriate
Important Follow-up Care
Follow-up Schedule
Short-term Follow-up
1weekPhonecallfromnurseCheckonyourrecoveryandanswer questions
1monthOfficevisitwithechoPhysicalexamandechocardiogram toassessvalvefunction
3monthsOfficevisitwithechoComprehensiveevaluationofyour progress
6monthsOfficevisitwithechoFullassessmentoflong-termvalve function
Long-term Monitoring
Annualechocardiograms-simple,painlessteststocheckvalvefunction
Regularofficevisits-typicallyevery6-12monthsafterthefirstyear
Bloodworkasneeded-monitoringkidneyfunctionandotherparameters
Monitoringforvalvedurability-ensuringexcellentlong-termfunction
Dental Care Considerations
Informyourdentistaboutyournewvalvebeforeanyprocedures
Antibioticsbeforedentalprocedures-we'llprovidespecificguidelines
Maintainexcellentdentalhygiene-brushandflossregularlytopreventinfections
Regulardentalcheck-ups-every6monthsasrecommended
Emergency Contact Information
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Procedure
Q:WillIfeelthenewvalveworking?A:No,youwon'tfeelthevalveitselfopeningandclosing.Whatyouwillnoticeis dramaticallyimprovedbreathing,increasedenergy,andtheabilitytodoactivitiesthathadbecomedifficult.
Q:Howlongwillmynewvalvelast?A:CurrentTAVRvalvesaredesignedtofunctionexcellentlyfor10-15+years.Many patientswillneverneedanothervalveprocedureintheirlifetime.
Q:CanItravelafterTAVR?A:Yes!Mostpatientscantravelwithin4-6weeksafterreceivingclearancefromtheirdoctor. Manypatientstaketripsthey'dbeenpostponingduetotheirsymptoms.
Q:WillIsetoffmetaldetectors?A:No,TAVRvalvesaremadeprimarilyoftissueanddonottypicallytriggermetal detectors.
About Recovery
Q:WhencanIdriveagain?A:Usuallywithin1-2weeks,onceyou'renolongertakingpainmedicationsandfeelcomfortable andalertenoughtodrivesafely.
Q:WillIneedtotakebloodthinnersforever?A:Mostpatientstakeaspirinforlifeandastrongerbloodthinner(likePlavix) for3-6months.Thisismuchsimplerthanthelifelongstrongbloodthinnersrequiredwithmechanicalvalves.
Q:CanIexercisenormallyafterrecovery?A:Yes!Mostpatientsreturntoalltheirdesiredexerciseactivitieswithin2-3 months.Manypatientsexercisemorethantheydidbeforetheirvalveproblemdeveloped.
Final Thoughts
TAVRrepresentsoneofthemostsignificantadvancesincardiovascularmedicineinthepastdecade.You'rereceivinga treatmentthathastransformedthelivesofhundredsofthousandsofpatientsworldwide.Theprocedureyou'rehavinghas anexcellentsafetyrecordandconsistentlyprovidesdramaticimprovementsinsymptomsandqualityoflife.
Ourentireteamiscommittedtoensuringyouhavethebestpossibleexperienceandoutcome.We'reheretosupportyou everystepoftheway,fromyourinitialconsultationthroughyourlong-termfollow-upcare.
MostpatientstellusthatTAVRwasoneofthebestdecisionstheyevermade.Weexpectyou'llfeelthesamewayasyou returntoalltheactivitiesyoulovewithrenewedenergyandenthusiasm.
Thisguideisspecificallypersonalizedforyoursituation.Pleasecontactuswithanyquestionsorconcernsatanytime.We're heretosupportyouthroughthisjourneytosignificantlybetterhearthealthandqualityoflife.
YourTAVRguidepersonallycraftedby
Dr C Raghu
Mobile+919848155650(PersonalNumber)
DonothesitatetoWhatsApphimanyqueries