Application Detail

Description of Medical Service

The TAVI procedure relevant to this application consists of the transfemoral insertion of a minimally invasive prosthetic heart valve that is positioned within the native aortic annulus. Once in situ, the valve is expanded while the heart is rapidly paced. The procedure is performed under fluoroscopic and transosophageal guidance and under general anaesthesia or sedation and local anaesthetic.

The TAVI procedure can be performed using either a self-expandable, mechanically expandable or balloon-expandable device. Once the correct position is confirmed, the heart is again rapidly paced, the balloon or valve is expanded until the device meets native annular walls, and the guide wire, catheter and balloon (if present) are removed.

Description of Medical Condition

Severe Aortic Stenosis (AS) is the abnormal narrowing of the aortic valve, which restricts the flow of blood from the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta. When the heart contracts to pump oxygenated blood from the left ventricle into the aorta, the aortic valve opens. If the aortic valve is narrowed, the heart no longer pumps blood efficiently and therefore, increases the blood pressure inside the left ventricle. In response to the extra workload, the muscle of the left ventricle thickens (concentric hypertrophy) and the chamber itself may eventually balloon out. Left untreated, congestive heart failure develops and death is likely.

This application is relevant to patients with severe, symptomatic AS classified as being at low risk for surgery. ‘Low risk’ is historically defined by a predicted 30-day risk of surgical mortality of <4%, based on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality score.

Reason for Application

Amendment to an existing MBS item

Medical Service Type

Therapeutic

Previous Application Number/s

Not Applicable

Associated Documentation

Application Form

Application Form (PDF 1224 KB)
Application Form (Word 152 KB)

Consultation Survey

Consultation Survey (PDF 560 KB)
Consultation Survey (Word 71 KB)

PICO Confirmation

-

Assessment Report

-

Public Summary Document

Public Summary Document (PDF 1215 KB)
Public Summary Document (Word 557 KB)

Meetings for this Application

PASC

Expedited - Bypassing PASC

ESC

10-11 June 2021

MSAC

29-30 July 2021