The Cardiovascular Center at Samsung Changwon Hospital (Director: Park Yong-hwan) announced on May 7 that it has surpassed 50 cases of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a sophisticated treatment for aortic valve stenosis. This milestone was achieved approximately two years and six months after the hospital performed its first procedure in November 2023.
Aortic valve stenosis is a condition in which the heart’s aortic valve narrows due to aging, severely restricting blood flow. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and fainting. If left untreated, the condition is exceptionally dangerous, with a two-year mortality rate reaching 50%.
While treatment once required invasive open-heart surgery, TAVI offers a minimally invasive alternative. Clinicians access the heart through the femoral artery in the thigh to remove the damaged valve and implant an artificial one. This approach is particularly beneficial for patients aged 70 and older or those considered at high risk for traditional surgery. Because the procedure is brief and involves minimal pain, most patients can return to their daily routines within five to seven days.
The TAVI team at Samsung Changwon Hospital utilizes a multidisciplinary care system to establish personalized treatment plans. Experts from Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Radiology, and Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine collaborate to comprehensively evaluate each patient's condition and disease severity.
“TAVI is a highly advanced procedure that can be applied safely and effectively, even to elderly or high-risk patients suffering from aortic valve stenosis,” said Director Park Yong-hwan.
The Cardiovascular Center is officially certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as a TAVI Procedure Institution. Additionally, it has earned "Independent TAVI Procedure Institution" status from leading global artificial valve manufacturers, including Edwards Lifesciences and Medtronic.
