Preparing for TAVR in Jaipur: What to Expect Before, During and After the Procedure

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), also known as TAVI, is one of the most advanced treatments available today for severe aortic stenosis, a condition in which the heart's aortic valve narrows and restricts blood flow. While TAVR is far less invasive than traditional open-heart valve surgery, it is still a significant cardiac procedure — and careful preparation plays a major role in a smooth, successful outcome. For patients in Jaipur and across Rajasthan considering TAVR, understanding what happens before, during and after the procedure can make the entire experience far less overwhelming.

Why preparation matters

Aortic stenosis, sometimes called heart valve failure, tends to worsen over time if left untreated, so timely evaluation and treatment planning are important. The sooner symptomatic aortic stenosis is diagnosed and treated, the sooner a patient can return to an active, healthy life.

TAVR is performed through a catheter rather than open-chest surgery, which generally means a shorter procedure, a shorter hospital stay and a faster return to daily activities compared with conventional valve replacement surgery. Many patients are able to walk within a day of the procedure and return home soon after.

What to expect before your TAVR procedure

Careful evaluation before TAVR is one of the most important steps toward a safe, successful outcome. Before the procedure, your cardiology team will typically:

• Assess your overall health with tests such as a CT scan, chest X-ray, blood work and other investigations related to your heart and lung function.
• Review every medicine and over-the-counter supplement you are taking, and advise which ones need to be paused or adjusted before the procedure to reduce the risk of complications.
• Perform an echocardiogram to closely evaluate your aortic valve anatomy and function.
• Carry out a coronary angiogram, when needed, to assess the health of the arteries supplying blood to your heart.
• Advise you to stop certain medications, and to avoid smoking and alcohol in the lead-up to the procedure, to help minimise risk.
• Give you fasting instructions — typically avoiding food and drink for around 8 to 10 hours before the procedure.

What happens during the TAVR procedure?

The exact technique can vary slightly from patient to patient depending on valve anatomy and vascular access, but a TAVR procedure generally follows these steps:

• You will be asked to remove jewellery and any metal objects, and will change into a hospital gown before the procedure begins.
• An IV line is placed, along with the catheters needed to guide the procedure — the access site (most commonly the femoral artery in the groin) is chosen based on your individual vascular anatomy.
• Sedation or anaesthesia is administered under the guidance of an anaesthesiologist, and the cardiologist then guides a catheter through the artery to the diseased aortic valve using continuous imaging for precision.
• A new, collapsible replacement valve is carefully positioned inside your existing aortic valve and expanded into place, where it immediately begins regulating blood flow.
• Once the valve position and function are confirmed — often using transthoracic echocardiography — the access site is closed, frequently without the need for any surgical incision.

What to expect after the TAVR procedure: recovery and care

After TAVR, you will be moved to a cardiac recovery area, where your heart rhythm, valve function and vital signs are closely monitored. Many patients are able to walk and resume a normal diet within a day. Depending on your individual recovery, you may be able to go home the very next day, though hospital stay can vary from patient to patient based on overall health and how the procedure was tolerated.

Your cardiologist will give you clear instructions on medication, diet, activity levels and follow-up care. Full recovery can take a few weeks, and the following guidelines are generally recommended:

• Take all prescribed medications exactly as directed, usually for several months following the procedure.
• Avoid high-intensity exercise and heavy lifting during the initial recovery period, while gradually resuming light daily activities and, where appropriate, work.
• Consider a supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme to support a quicker, safer recovery.
• Contact your doctor immediately if you notice swelling, bleeding, redness, unusual pain, fever, shortness of breath or discharge at the access site — and avoid smoking and alcohol to support long-term heart health.

Why choose Dr. Prashant Dwivedi for TAVR in Jaipur?

When it comes to a procedure as important as TAVR, choosing an experienced, dedicated specialist makes a real difference. Dr. Prashant Dwivedi is a leading interventional and structural heart cardiologist in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and has performed more than 450 TAVR procedures, making him one of the most experienced TAVR specialists in the region.

Dr. Dwivedi is among the few cardiologists in India specifically trained in TAVR, TMVR, TriClip, MitraClip and other advanced structural heart interventions, and has performed a trans-atrial TMVR in mitral annular calcification (MAC) using a balloon-expandable valve — one of the first such cases in India. Alongside his clinical team, he focuses on personalised, patient-centred care, ensuring every patient in Jaipur and across Rajasthan receives a thorough evaluation and a treatment plan suited to their specific heart condition.

This article is for general information only and does not replace personal medical advice.