TAVI stands for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation, which is a minimally invasive procedure that helps to repair a damaged aortic valve. During the procedure, an artificial valve made of natural animal heart tissue (usually from a cow or a pig) is implanted into the heart. The new valve is placed inside the old, damaged valve, and once expanded, it pushes the old valve leaflets out of the way and the tissue in the replacement valve takes over the job of regulating blood flow.

TAVI is different from standard valve replacement because it is available for people with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis at low, intermediate, or high risk for standard valve replacement surgery. Usually, valve replacement requires an open-heart procedure with a “sternotomy,” in which the chest is surgically separated (opened) for the procedure. The TAVI or TAVR procedures can be done through very small openings that leave all the chest bones in place.

The TAVI procedure is performed using one of two approaches, allowing the cardiologist or surgeon to choose which one provides the best and safest way to access the valve:

• Entering through the femoral artery (large artery in the groin), called the transfemoral approach, which does not require a surgical incision in the chest, or...
• Using a minimally invasive surgical approach with a small incision in the chest and entering through a large artery in the chest or through the tip of the left ventricle (the apex), which is known...

TAVI is recommended for people who have a problem with their aortic valve and are too high risk for open-heart surgery. The procedure can help reduce chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms of aortic valve stenosis. However, as with any procedure, there are some risks associated with TAVI, including bleeding, stroke, and infection. The decision to have TAVI is made after talking with a team of heart doctors and heart surgeons.