Repairing the Heart Without Surgery

After the age of 65, the heart becomes weaker because the aortic valve, guarantor of good blood circulation throughout the body, tends to shrink. Ten years ago, heart valves could only be repaired in a very difficult and risky operation. No more today, when a gentle new method is available: the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation - TAVI.

The far less dangerous alternative is thanks to cardiologist Prof. Dr. Alain Cribier from the University Hospital in Rouen. He worked for a long time on the revolutionary method of inserting an artificial valve without surgical intervention. Since his invention, the technique has constantly evolved and has already saved more than 200,000 people around the world. Today, cardiologists around the world, including Dr Olaf Franzen, are inserting the novel aortic heart valve prostheses into the ventricle via an artery - something that was considered impossible 15 years ago.

A fascinating short film (german only) by the Arte Futurmag.

Das Herz ohne Chirurgie reparieren