-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
J. Zamorano, A. Pardo, 3D-ECHO for TAVI: two arrows, just in case , European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging, Volume 17, Issue 1, January 2016, Pages 9–10, https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jev282
- Share Icon Share
Extract
The legend tells that William Tell, an extremely accurate archer, lived in Bürglen, Switzerland, around the 14th century. As a punishment for an act of rebellion, he was forced by the governor to shoot an arrow against an apple placed on his son's head. If he hit the target, he would be released. If he failed, he would be sentenced to death. William only needed an arrow to succeed, but had hidden a second one only visible to few witnesses. When inquired about that second arrow, he replied that, had the first one gone off target, he would have shot the second directly to the governor's heart.
Ageing is a fact, and medicine must adapt itself to it to satisfy the requirements of an elderly population. Aortic stenosis is a frequent problem in this group of patients, appearing predominantly in individuals over 75 years of age. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the treatment of choice for patients with high surgical risk or considered inoperable.