With the participation of Alexey Biryukov, Interventional Cardiologist and Head of the No. 1 Department of X-ray Surgical Diagnostic and Treatment Methods at Academician Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg, and Arsen Tsaturyan, Interventional Cardiologist of the Angiographic Service at the Cardiology Center of Erebuni Medical Center, and with the support of Meril Life Sciences, another state-of-the-art minimally invasive procedure was performed — endovascular prosthetic replacement of the aortic valve. A new aortic valve was implanted in a woman over 70 years of age, without opening the chest and without cardiopulmonary bypass.
Aortic valve stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve that creates a pressure gradient between the left ventricle and the aorta, leading to heart failure and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Critical aortic stenosis most commonly affects individuals over the age of 65 and occurs in approximately 4–5% of cases. The main symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and syncope.
Aortic valve stenosis is diagnosed by a cardiologist through clinical examination and echocardiographic assessment. This condition cannot be treated with medication alone. Patients with critical aortic stenosis typically require aortic valve implantation.
Arsen Tsaturyan has been performing these procedures for many years in collaboration with international colleagues. Using angiographic imaging obtained with X-ray guidance, the new valve is delivered endovascularly through the femoral artery and implanted at the level of the aortic valve, replacing the diseased valve. Following implantation, the pressure gradient is eliminated, symptoms regress, and the patient recovers rapidly without serious postoperative complications.
Worldwide, the number of endovascular aortic valve implantation procedures continues to grow each year. The European Society of Cardiology regularly updates its clinical guidelines, reflecting the significant progress of modern medicine and the increasing role of minimally invasive interventions in the treatment of aortic valve stenosis. Erebuni Medical Center is guided by these same principles, continuously implementing advanced, evidence-based cardiovascular care.
