What Is Severe Aortic Stenosis?

Severe aortic stenosis occurs when the aortic valve leaflets becomes stiff, reducing their flexibility and ability to fully open and close properly.

This results in a narrowing (stenosis) of the valve opening. This narrowing reduces and restricts blood flow, requiring your heart to work harder.

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting 1% – 2% of general population, and it is more common as the population gets older.

Severe Aortic Stenosis Pathology & Symptoms

This narrowing reduces and restrict blood flow, requiring your heart to work harder. As a result, less oxygen-rich blood flows from your lungs to the brain and the rest of your body.

Atrial Fibrillation Pathology & Symptoms

In a healthy beating heart, your blood pumps in a steady, coordinated fashion in the chambers of your heart to and from other parts of your body. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) happens when the top two chambers of the heart, the atria, beat too fast and with an irregular rhythm (fibrillation).

TAVI and the associated risk of Stroke

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a less invasive procedure that replaces the diseased aortic valve without opening your chest to reach your heart. TAVI can save lives and significantly improve quality of life, but like all medical procedures, it may involve risk.

Atrial Fibrillation and the associated risk of Stroke

That’s because AF causes your heart to beat irregularly, which affects its ability to pump blood normally and when the heart doesn’t pump as it should, blood can collect and form clots.

1. AF causes blood to stagnate in the left atrial appendage (LAA)

2. The stagnant blood becomes an ideal environment for athrombus or blood clot to form

3. The blood clot, or portion of it, dislodges from the LAA and travels through the arterial system

4. The embolism lodges itself in the blood vessels of the brain, restricting blood flow and causing a stroke

Stroke is a Devasting Event Minimize the risk of stroke during your TAVR procedure

All stroke occurs on average 4% of the time

During the aortic valve replacement procedure, pieces of the calcified heart valve, or other debris, can break loose and travel through the arteries toward the brain. This material is called embolic debris. If left unaddressed, the debris could cause blockages, potentially leading to stroke.

Take charge of atrial fibrillation & stroke risk

How the SENTINEL™ Cerebral Protection System Works

1. The SENTINEL device is placed at the beginning of the TAVR procedure through a small puncture in the right wrist.

2. Two tiny filters are placed in the main arteries that carry 90% of the blood to the brain. These filters collect any dislodged debris, preventing it from traveling to the brain.

3. At the completion of the TAVR procedure, the filters and collected debris are removed from the body.

What is the WATCHMAN FLX™ LAA Closure device?

The WATCHMAN FLX™ device is a permanent implant designed to keep harmful blood clots from entering your blood stream, potentially causing a stroke. It is made from very light and compact materials commonly used in many other medical devices.