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1500 times TAVI in Rotenburg: cardiac medicine at the highest level!
The Rotenburg Cardiovascular Center is celebrating the 1,500th TAVI procedure and setting standards in minimally invasive cardiac medicine.
1500 times TAVI in Rotenburg: cardiac medicine at the highest level!
A remarkable success for the Cardiovascular Center (HKZ) in Rotenburg: the 1,500th transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was successfully carried out there on July 12, 2025. This is a significant milestone for the center, which has continued to grow since the first TAVR procedure on October 20, 2010. The TAVI technique was originally intended primarily for seriously ill patients with a high risk of surgery, but many older patients over 75 years of age now also benefit from this minimally invasive method.
TAVI offers numerous advantages: The procedure is usually carried out via the groin artery and does not require a deep opening of the chest. This reduces the burden on patients and shortens recovery times. Prof. Dr. Marcus Franz, head physician at the Cardiology Clinic at the HKZ, emphasizes the importance of quality assurance and collaboration within an interdisciplinary team. This is also reflected in the constantly increasing demand - last year the number of TAVI rose by around 20% to around 150 procedures per year.
Development and certification
In 2017, the HKZ Rotenburg was recognized as the first certified TAVI center in northern Hesse, making it a first port of call for many patients. The certification was granted by the German Society for Cardiology and the German Society for Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery. The Cardiovascular Center has earned an excellent reputation through the continuous improvement of its procedures and methods in cardiac medicine.
TAVI has evolved in recent years. Today, younger patients can also benefit from this therapy under certain conditions. In addition to aortic valve care, the entire interventional valve program, which also includes mitral and tricuspid valves, has seen an increase of around 50% to around 70-80 patients per year. Loud kardiologie.uk-koeln.de TAVI is now performed over 500 times a year and is considered the standard treatment for aortic valve stenosis, especially in people over 75 years old.
The technology in detail
An innovative approach to treating aortic valve stenosis is catheter-assisted technology. This is made possible using a catheter that is usually inserted through the artery in the groin. The diseased valve is not removed, but is pressed against the wall during the procedure so that the new valve can take over its function. This makes TAVI particularly suitable for patients who are at increased risk from conventional operations due to their age or comorbidities.
Studies show that after a TAVI procedure, symptoms in high-risk patients are significantly improved and the complication rate remains low. TAVI is mainly used for aortic valve stenosis, which is the most common heart valve disease in Germany. Another interesting detail is that around 40% of all aortic valves in Germany are replaced by TAVI, which underlines the trend towards minimally invasive cardiac medicine.
The HKZ Rotenburg is also planning a new building in Bad Hersfeld in order to improve the capacities and conditions for its patients and the team. Despite the successful development, there is still a need for modern forms of treatment in the field of cardiac medicine - especially at a time when older people are living longer and longer and also require optimal medical care.