Aortic Valve Disease Treatment in India

Sneha Singh, a 68-year-old retired school...

Sneha Singh, a 68-year-old retired school principal, had always been active, but over the past year, she found herself increasingly short of breath. Simple tasks like climbing the stairs to her apartment or walking to the market left her gasping and exhausted. She also began experiencing dizzy spells and a persistent, uncomfortable fluttering in her chest. Initially, she dismissed it as old age, but her daughter insisted on a check-up. Her cardiologist, Dr. Rao, listened to her heart and heard a distinct murmur. An echocardiogram confirmed severe aortic stenosis, her aortic valve was dangerously narrowed. Dr. Rao explained that the valve was like a rusty gate that wouldn't open properly, forcing her heart to work much harder. He recommended a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a less invasive procedure than open-heart surgery, which was ideal given her age. Sneha was terrified; the thought of a procedure on her heart filled her with dread, and she worried about being a burden. The TAVR itself was a blur. She remembered being wheeled into the cath lab, and the next thing she knew, she was in recovery, sore but awake. The recovery in the hospital was monitored closely, and within a few days, she was walking the corridors. The most remarkable change came weeks later at home. The crushing fatigue was gone. She could breathe deeply again and walk her granddaughter to the park without stopping. Emotionally, she transformed from a fearful, withdrawn woman who had accepted a slow decline into her vibrant, engaged self again, filled with gratitude for a second chance at an active life with her family.