WILLEMSTAD - The first Transcatheter aortic valve implantation took place this week at the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC). During the implantation, the aortic valve was replaced by an artificial valve. This week, the team has successfully completed three such procedures. The cardiologists team consisting of Dr. Jose Navarro Mendez and Dr. Jose Torres Viera were assisted by a Dutch expert who is temporarily resident to provide support if necessary. However, this was not necessary as the treatments went smoothly.
A transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a treatment for patients with aortic valve disease where a new valve is inserted into this narrowed valve. These procedures are usually performed under local anesthetic (conscious sedation) rather than under general anesthesia.
Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood to your lungs and the rest of your body. It contains four valves that open to allow blood to flow through the heart and close to prevent blood from returning flows. This makes the heart an effective pump. One of these valves is called the aortic valve. When open, the oxygenated blood flows from the heart into the aorta, which is the main artery because it feeds the rest of your body. In some people, the aortic valve can degenerate and open with difficulty. This condition is called aortic stenosis.
As a result, the heart struggles to pump blood through the narrowed valve. This causes symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain. Some people can feel dizzy and even pass out during exercise. The limitations and extra effort it takes to pump blood also puts strain on the heart muscle. This can lead to fluid in the lungs, ankles and swelling eventually to a weakened heart muscle.
Replacing an aortic valve may increase both the quality of life and the life expectancy of a patient with aortic valve disease.