Research summary
Aortic stenosis (AS) is a disease that leads to restricted blood flow in the heart. For patients with severe AS, trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a minimally invasive alternative to surgical replacing the aortic valve. However, limited funding and increasing demand have led to long wait times for the procedure. To manage wait times, we need incremental funding to build capacity as well as better wait-time management and triage tools.
Dr. Harindra Wijeysundera, Canada Research Chair in Structural Heart Disease Policy and Outcomes, has developed the first dedicated TAVI wait-time management tool, the Canadian TAVI Triage Tool. Now, he and his research team are evaluating the clinical utility and economic impact of this tool. They are conducting a “real world” evaluation through a partnership with 11 hospitals in Ontario. Their research could result in a wait-time management model for interventions to treat patients suffering from a range of complex conditions.