Cardiovascular health is a topic of paramount importance, and advancements in medical technology have revolutionized the way we address heart-related issues. Two common procedures you may have heard of are stent placement and TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation). While both play critical roles in treating heart conditions, they are distinctly different in their applications and mechanisms. In this blog, we’ll unravel the dissimilarities between stents and TAVI to help you better understand these cardiac interventions.
Stents: Opening the Blocked Arteries
What Is a Stent?
A stent is a tiny, mesh-like tube typically made of metal or a biodegradable polymer. It is used to treat narrowed or blocked arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. The primary goal of stent placement is to restore blood flow by expanding the artery and providing structural support to keep it open.
How Is Stent Placement Performed?
- Diagnosis: First, a cardiac catheterization procedure is performed to identify the location and severity of the arterial blockage. This involves threading a catheter through a blood vessel, usually from the groin or wrist, to the affected artery.
- Angioplasty: A small balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated at the site of the blockage. This widens the artery, pushing aside the plaque buildup.
- Stent Deployment: After angioplasty, a stent is inserted at the same location. It is typically collapsed around a balloon. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands, pushing against the artery walls and locking in place.
- Improved Blood Flow: The stent remains in the artery, holding it open, and ensuring improved blood flow to the heart.
Stent placement is commonly used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) and prevent heart attacks.
TAVI: Aortic Valve Replacement Without Open-Heart Surgery
What Is TAVI?
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), also known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat aortic valve stenosis. Aortic valve stenosis occurs when the aortic valve in the heart becomes narrowed, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.
How Is TAVI Performed?
- Access Point: Similar to stent placement, TAVI starts with a catheterization procedure through a blood vessel, usually in the groin or chest.
- Valve Delivery: Instead of a stent, a bioprosthetic valve (often made from cow or pig tissue) is attached to a balloon-expandable stent frame. This valve is compressed around a balloon.
- Valve Deployment: The catheter is guided to the aortic valve, where the balloon is inflated. This expands the new valve and pushes aside the old, damaged valve.
- Improved Valve Function: The new valve begins functioning immediately, allowing for improved blood flow from the heart to the body.
TAVI is an alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic valve stenosis who may be considered high-risk candidates for traditional surgical valve replacement.
Key Differences
- Purpose: Stents are used to treat blocked arteries, while TAVI addresses aortic valve stenosis.
- Mechanism: Stents provide structural support to arteries, while TAVI replaces a malfunctioning heart valve.
- Targeted Area: Stents are typically placed in coronary arteries, while TAVI focuses on the aortic valve.
- Procedure Complexity: TAVI is a more complex procedure that may require specialized training.
Understanding the distinction between stents and TAVI is crucial for patients and healthcare providers to make informed decisions regarding cardiac care. Both interventions have revolutionized the field of cardiology, offering less invasive options for treating heart conditions and improving patients’ quality of life.
