It is not open-heart surgery: the breastbone is not opened and the heart is not stopped. It is a catheter-based procedure.

How long does the new valve last?

The long-term durability of TAVI valves is still being studied. For this reason the choice of treatment, especially in younger patients, is made carefully with the heart team.

When can I return to daily life?

Most patients return to their daily activities quickly. You will be given specific advice on lifting and driving when you are discharged.

In case of sudden chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting, call 112.

TAVI for aortic stenosis: valve replacement without open-heart surgery

A new valve is placed inside the narrowed aortic valve using a catheter, usually advanced through the artery in the groin. The breastbone is not opened.

What is it?

The aortic valve is the door between the heart's left ventricle and the aorta, the main artery that carries blood to the body. With age the valve can become calcified; it no longer opens fully and the heart has to work harder to pump blood. This is called aortic stenosis. TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) places a new biological valve inside the narrowed valve without removing it. The new valve travels to the heart folded on the tip of a catheter and is opened in position. Prof. Dr. Barış Kılıçaslan actively performs structural heart interventions, including TAVI, in his clinical practice.

Who is it for?

Patients with severe aortic stenosis who have symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness or fainting
Older patients, or patients for whom open-heart surgery carries a high risk
The decision is made by a heart team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, based on age, general health and imaging findings

Before the procedure

Before the procedure you will have echocardiography, coronary angiography and a CT scan to measure the valve and the access arteries. The size of the new valve is chosen from these measurements. Your medications, especially blood thinners, are reviewed with your doctor before the procedure. Do not stop any medication on your own.

How is it done?

Access: A thin sheath is usually placed in the artery in the groin. If this artery is not suitable, other access routes are considered.
Reaching the valve: Under imaging guidance the catheter is advanced to the aortic valve.
Opening the new valve: The folded valve is opened inside the old one and fixed in place; the old valve is pushed aside.
Check and closure: The new valve is checked with echocardiography and imaging, and the access site is closed.

Recovery

After the procedure you are monitored for a while in intensive care or a close-observation unit. The timing of discharge depends on the access site and heart rhythm monitoring. After discharge the new valve is followed with regular check-ups and echocardiography. You will be told which medications to take and for how long.

Risks

Like every interventional procedure, TAVI has risks. The main ones are bleeding or vessel injury at the access site, heart rhythm disturbances and, in some patients, the need for a permanent pacemaker, stroke and leakage around the new valve. The balance of possible benefits and risks for you is discussed in detail, based on your personal situation, before the procedure.

Frequently asked questions

Is TAVI surgery? It is not open-heart surgery: the breastbone is not opened and the heart is not stopped. It is a catheter-based procedure.
How long does the new valve last? The long-term durability of TAVI valves is still being studied. For this reason the choice of treatment, especially in younger patients, is made carefully with the heart team.
When can I return to daily life? Most patients return to their daily activities quickly. You will be given specific advice on lifting and driving when you are discharged.

Medical content reviewed and approved by Prof. Dr. Barış Kılıçaslan. Last updated: 4 October 2026. Editor: Baran Zeydan (info@clinixcrm.app).