Structural Heart Disease Interventions (TAVR/TAVI)

What it is

TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement, also called TAVI) treats severe narrowing of the aortic valve by delivering a new valve through a catheter, usually via the leg artery — the chest is not opened. It has changed the outlook for many patients previously considered too frail for surgical valve replacement.

When it's needed

TAVR is considered for severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis — typically breathlessness, chest tightness, or blackouts in older patients. Suitability is decided by a structured heart-team evaluation: echocardiography, a CT scan of the valve and arteries, and an assessment of overall fitness. Not every patient is a TAVR candidate, and part of an honest evaluation is saying so when surgery or medical therapy is the better route.

What to expect

The procedure is performed in a cath lab under sedation or anaesthesia. Recovery is usually faster than open-heart surgery, with many patients mobile within a day or two. Dr. Kumar's practice focuses on structural heart disease, and he leads TAVR evaluation and procedures through Medanta-Moolchand Heart Centre's facilities.