Minimally invasive approach to calcified aortic valve replacement: Anaesthetic considerations

Abstract

For symptomatic patients with severe calcified aortic valve stenosis, open heart surgery for aortic valve replacement remains the gold standard. However, elderly patients with an increased risk profile can be treated by using transcatheter approaches (transcatheter aortic valve implantation [TAVI]).

The major considerations related to use of general and local anaesthesia for TAVI are discussed in this review.

Keywords

• Anaesthesia
• Aortic valve replacement
• Aortic valve stenosis
• Calcified aortic valve
• Transcatheter aortic valve implantation