MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The 100th heart valve transplant in Mossel Bay was done this month. 

A trans-catheter aortic valve implant (TAVI) it is a minimally invasive cardiac procedure for patients with aortic valve stenosis. 

Main artery

Aortic stenosis affects the valve between the lower left heart chamber and the body's main artery (aorta), which is narrowed and doesn't open fully. 

This reduces or blocks blood flow from the heart to the aorta and to the rest of the body, and essentially makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. 

Affects health

A diseased heart valve affects health and limits daily activities and may even lead to heart failure. 

There is no medical treatment for aortic valve disease except a surgical valve replacement. The Life Bay View Private Hospital cardiac team performed its 100th TAVI on 12 July. 

In selected aortic valve stenosis patients, there is no need to perform open-heart surgery to replace the diseased valve. 

Aortic valve replacement can be done through the groin where a catheter and specialised wires are inserted into the heart. 

Benefit

The benefit of a TAVI procedure for patients is that it requires just a tiny opening in the groin, which typically heals in about a day. 

This is a stark contrast to the lengthy six-week recovery period often necessary after traditional open-heart surgery. 

Less intrusive

It’s a quicker, less intrusive way to get the heart back in rhythm. 

The TAVI team at Life Bay View Private Hospital is headed by Dr HW Snyman and includes cardiologists, cardio-thoracic surgeons, an anaesthetist, cardiac-trained nurses, a cardio-vascular perfusionist, cardiac technologist and a radiographer.

We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news.