Why London’s Top Heart Docs Won’t Replace A Valve Without This CT Scan First
LONDON, UK – June 2025 — It’s one of the most life-changing heart procedures available today — a way to replace a faulty valve without opening the chest. But before it happens, London’s leading cardiologists insist on one vital test first: the CT TAVI scan.
“Why London’s Top Heart Docs Won’t Replace A Valve Without This CT Scan First”
At the renowned London Cardiovascular Clinic, a cutting-edge centre on Harley Street, the CT TAVI scan has become an integral part of patient care, enabling doctors to plan with precision and protect patients from complications during a TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) procedure.
And for good reason. As top consultant Dr Iqbal Malik puts it:
“You wouldn’t renovate a house without seeing the blueprints first. In TAVI, the CT scan is our blueprint — without it, we wouldn’t even begin.”
What Is a CT TAVI Scan?

A CT TAVI scan is a specialised type of cardiac CT angiogram designed specifically to plan for minimally invasive heart valve replacement. While the TAVI procedure replaces a narrowed aortic valve via a catheter (usually inserted through the groin), the scan is what makes it all possible.
Using contrast dye and a high-resolution CT scanner, the scan produces a 3D digital map of the patient’s heart and arteries. This allows cardiologists to check:
- The size, shape, and condition of the aortic valve
- The width and curve of the arteries leading to the heart
- The amount of calcium buildup
- The height of the coronary arteries (which must not be blocked during valve placement)
- Whether a TAVI is even possible or safe in the first place
The scan itself takes just 10–15 minutes, is completely non-invasive, and usually requires no hospital stay. Results can be turned around within 24 to 48 hours.
Why It’s Crucial for TAVI
The TAVI procedure is a lifeline for patients who are too frail or high-risk to undergo open-heart surgery. However, it’s not as simple as threading a new valve into place — every patient’s anatomy is different, and without clear visuals, the procedure could go awry.
“We use the CT TAVI scan to choose the correct size of valve, understand if there’s enough room to deploy it, and ensure we’re not putting the patient at risk of stroke or blocking blood flow to the brain or heart,” says Dr Malik.
He adds that the scan also reveals whether the transfemoral approach (through the groin) is a viable option. In some cases, heavy calcification or tortuous arteries mean an alternative route — such as through the arm or even direct to the heart — may be safer. The scan gives the answers in advance.
What Does the Scan Involve?
The process is remarkably straightforward. Patients lie on a CT scanning bed while a contrast dye is injected through a vein in the arm. The scanner then rotates around the chest, capturing thousands of high-resolution images.
These images are fed into advanced software that builds a 3D reconstruction of the chest, heart, and blood vessels, showing every detail, down to the millimetre.
At London Cardiovascular Clinic, patients are typically in and out within an hour.
“We often get results back within a day or two, and patients can move straight on to scheduling their procedure,” says a clinic spokesperson.
An Added Health Check
While the CT TAVI scan is designed for pre-procedure planning, it can also uncover other hidden risks. These include aneurysms, blocked arteries, and other structural abnormalities.
For elderly patients with other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or previous heart attacks, this added data is invaluable in ensuring the safest possible procedure.
“It’s one of the most useful diagnostic tools we have,” adds Dr Malik. “It reduces guesswork, makes the procedure faster, and dramatically lowers complication rates.”
Why It’s a Must-Have — Not a Maybe
Some outdated or under-resourced clinics may attempt to perform TAVI without a CT scan, relying instead on echocardiograms or X-rays. But this is increasingly seen as unsafe.
In 2025, the gold standard in TAVI planning is a detailed CT scan. Without it, risks can rise sharply from misplacement of the valve to blocked arteries, stroke, or worse.
“If you’ve been offered a TAVI procedure and no one has mentioned a CT scan, that’s a red flag,” warns Dr Malik.
What Patients Can Expect
At London Cardiovascular Clinic, the CT TAVI pathway is streamlined:
- Referral and initial assessment
- CT TAVI scan appointment (usually within days)
- Specialist review and planning consultation
- Referral to the NHS or private hospitals for the procedure itself
- Follow-up and long-term monitoring
Patients can self-refer or be referred by their GP or cardiologist.
Where to Book One
With an in-house team of leading specialists and access to the latest imaging and surgical technologies, London Cardiovascular Clinic is one of the few centres in the UK offering a full CT TAVI-to-treatment pathway, often faster than the NHS.
Appointments can typically be booked within 48 hours. The service is available to private patients, insurance holders, and certain NHS pathways.
The Bottom Line?
If you’ve been diagnosed with aortic stenosis or are being considered for a TAVI valve replacement, don’t skip the scan. The CT TAVI scan is more than just a test — it’s the foundation of safe, successful, life-saving treatment.