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Written By: Sponsored | Updated : November 25, 2025 4:19 PM IST
For decades, severe Aortic Stenosis (AS) has posed a life-threatening challenge for elderly and high-risk patients. Conventional open-heart surgery was once the only option, but for many, it carried immense risk.
Today, however, a new approach is transforming cardiac care. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive procedure, is offering patients a safe and effective alternative one that often avoids the trauma of open-heart surgery altogether.
This path-breaking procedure was recently highlighted in a conversation with Dr. Debdutta Bhattacharya, Consultant Cardiologist at Narayana H Hospital and Chief of the Cath Lab at Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS). Speaking on Zee 24 Ghanta, Dr. Bhattacharya discussed how TAVI is revolutionising the management of aortic valve disease in India.
A Game Changer for Elderly Heart Patients Aortic Stenosis primarily affects people above 70 years of age. Many of them also live with other health conditions involving the lungs, kidneys, or brain, which make traditional surgery difficult or even unsafe. TAVI bridges that gap by replacing the diseased valve without opening the chest. The procedure resembles an angioplasty more than open surgery. No Chest Cut: Instead of a large incision, doctors make a small puncture, usually near the groin, to insert a thin catheter carrying the new valve. Swift and Precise: The process typically takes about an hour to ninety minutes. Less Trauma, Faster Recovery: It requires no heart-lung machine and can often be performed under local anaesthesia. The impact is profound. Many patients return home within days and resume their normal routines within two weeks an unimaginable recovery timeline compared to traditional surgery.
Who Can Benefit from TAVI? According to Dr. Bhattacharya, TAVI is primarily advised for elderly
or high-risk patients, generally above the age of 70. Diagnosis begins with ECG and echocardiography, but a CT scan is crucial to precisely measure the heart's anatomy before the procedure. The implanted device is a bioprosthetic valve, made from biological tissue. Though its average lifespan is 10 15 years, that is rarely a concern. If needed later, doctors can perform a Valve-in-Valve procedure placing a new valve inside the existing one without open surgery extending the patient's heart health for another decade or more.
Making Treatment Accessible One of the most encouraging developments is the growing use of India-manufactured TAVI valves, which has significantly reduced overall costs. The availability of indigenous technology, Dr. Bhattacharya noted, has made the therapy far more affordable. Additionally, most insurance providers, including the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), now cover TAVI. With financial barriers coming down, more families can consider this procedure for their loved ones without fear of overwhelming expenses.
Real Stories, Renewed Lives The power of TAVI comes alive through patient experiences. Several patients described regaining energy they thought they had lost to aging. One 91-year-old gentleman reported feeling "first-class" only days after the procedure. Another patient climbed 54 stairs effortlessly soon after discharge. Individuals who had undergone earlier bypass surgeries shared that TAVI offered them the only viable option for a second intervention, allowing them to return to activities like morning walks and travel. For Dr. Bhattacharya, these outcomes represent more than clinical success. "The true measure of achievement," he said, "is the spontaneous love and reaction of patients who come back with renewed life and gratitude."
Looking Ahead TAVI is redefining what's possible in cardiac treatment. With its minimally invasive approach, quicker recovery, and expanding accessibility, the technique is poised to become the standard of care for many who were once considered inoperable. The growing acceptance of this procedure in India marks a shift toward patient-centric innovation one where age and risk no longer stand in the way of effective treatment.
Source: Interview with Dr. Debdutta Bhattacharya, Consultant Cardiologist Narayana H Hospital & Chief of Cath Lab, RTIICS, as featured on Zee 24 Ghanta. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/mFJ_HOt_JyY?si=GYSZLt9ILqG9pJ_J
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