Cardiologists in Italy utilize traditional open-heart surgery (SAVR), minimally invasive techniques, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). These approaches differ by incision size, recovery speed, and patient suitability, with Italian centers like San Donato Hospital in Milan performing over 9,400 cardiovascular procedures annually.
- Traditional SAVR: Uses full chest incisions for younger patients needing durable mechanical valve replacements.
- Minimally invasive SAVR: Employs partial sternotomies to reduce surgical trauma and speed up initial recovery.
- TAVR approach: Features catheter-based insertion via the groin, avoiding major incisions and heart-lung machines.
- Hospital stay: TAVR patients typically leave within 1–2 days, while SAVR requires 1 week.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Maria Cecilia Hospital handles over 15% of all cardiac surgeries in Italy, signaling a massive concentration of expertise. This volume suggests that Italian regional centers have specialized roles, where specific clinics dominate the national surgical workload through high-repetition mastery of complex valve replacements.
Patient Consensus: Many patients emphasize choosing SAVR for long-term valve durability exceeding 20 years. Conversely, TAVR is favored by older patients seeking to avoid sternotomy despite the higher risk of requiring a pacemaker.