TAVI experiences

[suffolksally]

Hello all, my Mum's awaiting a TAVI as her aortic valve is failing and she isn't a candidate for general anaesthesia (she's 88 and has COPD). She's worried about some aspects of it and I was wondering if anyone has had the procedure and would be willing to talk about it?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! A similar question was asked recently. There are people over 100 who have had successful TAVI treatment. Some members who have had the treatment should be along later or tomorrow. Not idea of age of the oldest of them as often older people are not active on the internet.

[Astromeria]

Hi, my dad had that procedure last year in Basildon hospital. He is also 88 . He was in three days as his blood pressure went up a bit but other than that all went amazingly well. Now, as far as his hearts concerned he is a lot stronger and enjoying life again.

[ericrw in reply to Astromeria]

Glad to hear your Dad is doing well. I'm 88 yrs and being considered for TAVI, and would like to know if there are any adverse side-effects ?

[Astromeria in reply to ericrw]

I can only reply from Dad's experience. Before he had it done he was very breathless and getting weaker. He also had a few falls because his blood pressure would drop. Now he's a lot stronger, eating well and enjoying life. He did have some fluid retention in his legs before Christmas but that has been sorted out with medication.

[suffolksally]

As well as being interested in everyone's experiences, we're wondering how common it is to need a pacemaker?

[SandraLlew in reply to suffolksally]

I was told that was a 10% risk, I was held in hospital for an extra day as my electricals were a bit off, released after that day as they were regularising. August 2024

[SandraLlew]

What particular aspects are worrying her, I'm 70 and had a TAVI on Wednesday this week. I found it was a lot more painful than I had been told it would be, but lots of pain meds were given during and after. The worst part for me was the 6 hours laying still and flat to help ensure that the wound stayed sealed. I had mine not because of heart symptoms but because of having lung cancer which they refused to treat unless I had a TAVI, I had mild to moderate Aortic Stenosis.