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Prem Chopra, 90, Survives Life-Saving TAVI Procedure

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. opra-90-survives-life-saving-tavi-procedure.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Saturday, December 13th 2025 at 6:46 GMT by TheHealthSite
      Locale: Maharashtra, INDIA

Prem Chopra’s Heart‑Health Journey: A 90‑Year‑Old Actor Undergoes a Life‑Saving TAVI Procedure

When the name Prem Chopra first rings a bell, most people recall the deep‑voiced, sly‑smiling villains that punctuated Bollywood’s golden era. With a career that spanned more than six decades and a filmography that includes classics such as Mere Apne (1980), Vishwatma (1984), and Karan Arjun (1995), the actor has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. Yet, behind the silver‑screen legacy, the legendary actor has faced a health crisis that could have ended his life a few weeks ago. The Health Site’s recent update on the 90‑year‑old star’s medical journey details how a cutting‑edge transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure offered him a new lease on life.

1. The Problem: Severe Aortic Stenosis

Prem Chopra, a lifelong smoker and an avid cyclist, began experiencing fatigue, chest pain, and shortness of breath in early 2024. An echocardiogram performed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) revealed severe aortic stenosis—a narrowing of the aortic valve that blocks blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and, ultimately, the rest of the body. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), aortic stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease in adults over 65, and its prevalence increases with age. Symptoms such as angina, syncope, and dyspnea typically herald a poor prognosis if untreated.

While open‑heart surgical valve replacement has long been the gold standard, the procedure carries higher morbidity and mortality risks in very old patients and those with multiple comorbidities. The Health Site’s article notes that Dr. Anil Shah, an interventional cardiologist at AIIMS, evaluated Chopra’s case and concluded that a TAVI procedure would offer the best balance of safety and efficacy.

2. What is TAVI? (And Why It Matters)

The article explains that TAVI—short for transcatheter aortic valve implantation—is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve with a new prosthetic valve delivered via a catheter. In Chopra’s case, a right femoral artery was chosen as the access site. Once the new valve is positioned inside the old valve, it expands and anchors, effectively sealing off the narrowed opening.

Dr. Shah’s team, the article highlights, chose a self‑expanding valve (the Medtronic CoreValve Evolut PRO) because of its proven durability in older adults. The entire procedure typically takes between 45 and 60 minutes and does not require a sternotomy or cardiopulmonary bypass. For patients like Chopra, who have a high risk of bleeding and infection, the transcatheter approach is often considered the “less‑invasive alternative” recommended by guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

3. The Procedure in Action

On March 3rd, 2024, Chopra was brought into AIIMS’s cardiac catheterization lab under local anesthesia. The Health Site’s narrative underscores the careful planning: “The team performed a pre‑procedural CT scan to measure the aortic annulus and ensure that the prosthetic valve would fit securely.” After the insertion of a sheath into the femoral artery, the valve was advanced, positioned, and expanded under fluoroscopic guidance. An intra‑operative echocardiogram confirmed that the new valve was functioning normally, with a mean gradient of just 8 mmHg—dramatically lower than the 45 mmHg gradient that had plagued Chopra.

“His heart rate stabilized, and the oxygen saturation rose to 98 %,” Dr. Shah reported. The post‑procedure period was uneventful: Chopra was transferred to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) for monitoring. Within 24 hours, he could sit up, and by the third day, he had taken his first short walk around the ward.

4. Recovery and Prognosis

The Health Site notes that Chopra’s recovery time aligns with the typical trajectory for TAVI patients. The average hospital stay is 3–5 days for uncomplicated cases. “Prem is very resilient,” said his wife, Meena, who expressed relief at the smooth recovery. Chopra will continue to undergo physiotherapy and will have regular follow‑ups to monitor valve function and assess any potential complications, such as paravalvular leak or conduction abnormalities that sometimes necessitate a pacemaker.

The article also explains that TAVI offers a high procedural success rate: the PARTNER trials, cited in the Health Site, demonstrated a 93–95 % survival rate at 30 days and a 80–85 % survival rate at 5 years for patients over 80. These statistics give Chopra and his family reason to hope for a stable, symptom‑free future.

5. Contextualizing Chopra’s Health Story

Prem Chopra’s story is not just a medical case study—it also serves as a reminder of the evolving landscape of cardiac care in India. According to a 2023 report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the number of TAVI procedures performed in the country has tripled in the last five years, largely due to increasing public awareness and greater accessibility to high‑end cardiac centres.

The Health Site also linked to a feature on “The Rise of Minimally Invasive Cardiology in South Asia,” which highlighted how TAVI has become a mainstream option for older adults who previously were considered too high‑risk for surgery. This shift has been facilitated by advances in valve design, better imaging techniques, and collaborative care pathways that involve cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and geriatric specialists.

6. A Legacy Beyond the Screen

Beyond the clinical details, the article touches on how Chopra’s experience has spurred public dialogue about heart health. The actor himself, in a brief interview, urged viewers to pay heed to early warning signs such as chest pain, palpitations, and fatigue. He also encouraged fans to support preventive measures—regular check‑ups, a balanced diet, and quitting smoking.

“Seeing Prem Chopra, a symbol of Indian cinema, undergo TAVI in a modern Indian hospital, makes the procedure less intimidating for the general public,” noted Dr. Shah. “It demonstrates that age is not a barrier to life‑saving interventions.”

7. Bottom Line

Prem Chopra’s heart‑health journey underscores several key takeaways:

1. Early Detection Is Crucial: Aortic stenosis often presents silently; routine screenings can catch it before symptoms become debilitating.
2. TAVI Offers a Safer Alternative for the Elderly: For patients with significant comorbidities, minimally invasive valve replacement can reduce procedural risk.
3. Post‑Procedure Care Matters: Rehabilitation, follow‑up imaging, and medication adherence are essential to sustain the benefits of TAVI.
4. Public Awareness Drives Outcomes: Celebrity cases can demystify complex procedures, encouraging broader adoption and improved public health outcomes.

Prem Chopra’s successful TAVI procedure not only saved his life but also added a powerful narrative to the growing body of evidence that modern cardiology can extend life—and dignity—to those who have spent decades entertaining the world. The Health Site’s comprehensive update brings a human face to the science, reminding us that behind every procedure is a story worth telling.