Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
As Dr. Sai Satish explains, “the heart is like a pump,” and the aortic valve plays a crucial role in allowing blood to flow from the heart into the aorta, the body’s main artery. However, with age or other factors, the aortic valve can become narrowed—a condition known as aortic stenosis—restricting blood flow and leading to potentially life-threatening symptoms such as shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, or even fainting.
For decades, open-heart surgery was the primary treatment for aortic stenosis, but remarkable advances in cardiac technology now allow for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a non-surgical procedure that does not require general anesthesia. TAVI has become the ideal solution for patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis, including those with unique challenges, such as heavily calcified or bicuspid (two-leaflet) valves, failed tissue prosthetic valves, or even heavily leaking aortic valves. This breakthrough therapy is increasingly available to younger patients, offering an improved quality of life with a safer and more effective approach.
Dr. Sai Satish was among the first to be trained in TAVI when it was introduced in 2008, and he has since performed over 500 TAVI procedures globally. As Clinical Lead of Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapies at Apollo Hospitals, India, and Director of Structural Heart (International) at Gottsegen Institute of Cardiology in Budapest, he brings unmatched expertise to each case. An international trainer in trans-catheter aortic valve replacement, Dr. Satish has led hands-on training programs for doctors from over 20 countries and introduced TAVI in more than 30 centers across India, Asia, and Europe, including AIIMS in New Delhi and PGI Chandigarh.
Dedicated to the highest standards of patient care, Dr. Sai Satish believes that every individual deserves a life of quality and dignity. His approach is deeply collaborative, involving a heart team to guide each aspect of care—patient selection, case assessment, valve choice, and procedural technique—to ensure the best outcomes for both patients and their families. This commitment extends beyond algorithms to focus on holistic and compassionate care, tailored to each patient’s unique needs and circumstances.
TAVI stands as a life-enhancing option for patients with aortic stenosis, allowing many to return to an active and fulfilling life through this pioneering therapy.