PERCUTANEOUS HEART VALVES

page 4 / 6

The vascular access is the femoral artery. The aortic stent is a large size device; consequently, in order to ensure that the femoral artery is of sufficient size to accommodate the prosthesis, several preliminary tests must be performed (echography-Doppler, and MRI of the lower limbs). Venous femoral access is also used.

The procedure is painless and lasts about 30 min.
The stent is mounted on a metallic wire and then delivered to the site of the narrowed aortic valve.
Once positioned, the stent is inflated inside the native valve.

After checking that the ‘new’ valve is functioning adequately, the operator completes the procedure by suturing the femoral access surgically. This leaves a scar of a few centimeters.

	See also
	Percutaneous Implantation of Aortic Valve Prosthesis