Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A New Method for the Treatment of Aortic Valve Disease

Abstract

As heart complications increase among the elderly population, transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a new procedure that can treat many aortic stenosis and congestive heart failure patients. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a common medical procedure across Europe; this investigates the possibility of the procedure’s adoption as common practice in the United States. Several factors have been identified as key components for adapting to this procedure. Medical institutions must update their catheterization labs and operating rooms as well as train all surgical staff members on the transcatheter valve technology and standard procedures. Intensive care unit and surgical recovery staff must also be adequately prepared to care for patients who undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement. These changes by medical facilities could potentially allow a great expansion in the number and type of patients the facility is able to treat. Furthermore, patients who are eligible to undergo this surgery are shown to benefit in their post-surgery recovery time and in their overall health. Based on extensive research, medical professionals should be considering adoption of transcatheter aortic valve replacement as a common method for treatment of aortic valve disease.