Aortic Stenosis, TAVI Treatment and the Role of Cardiac Computed Tomography

Abstract

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common valvular disorder, especially in the elderly, when the aortic valve does not open enough during systole. Main symptoms are chest pain, heart failure and syncope. Etiologies are calcification, congenital and rheumatic change of the valve. The gold standard method for evaluation of AS is echocardiography. The definitive treatment for AS is aortic valve replacement. The valve replacement is performed by open heart surgery or transcatheter method. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is one of the interventions in which aortic valve is replaced to the biological prosthetic valve by catheter. This is less invasive method than open heart surgery and it is used for the elderly and patients previously considered difficult to operate on. Which intervention to use is discussed and determined based on the patient's condition and risk factors.