Stress echocardiogram appointment available Friday 26th April at East Melbourne.
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Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a keyhole surgical procedure performed to replace the aortic valve, one of four heart valves.
Patients with a failing aortic valve are typically diagnosed via an echocardiogram. When the valve has deteriorated to the point of needing replacement patients undergo a full cardiovascular assessment. This also involves a coronary angiogram and CT scanning to ensure their suitability for the procedure. Each individual case is discussed at a specialist meeting to ensure it is an appropriate choice before a decision is made to proceed with the operation.
Under anaesthetic, a small tube is typically placed in the main artery of the leg and then catheters are used to enable accurate placement of the new aortic valve under X-ray and ultrasound guidance. The new valve is then deployed and the old valve is pushed out of the way.
Patients are typically in hospital for 2-3 nights following their procedure. There is typically no driving for 2-4 weeks afterwards but patients should expect to be able to return to all their previous activities, such as golf or tennis, within a month.