Which Missing Record Actually Blocks a TAVR or TAVI Review
TAVI, also called TAVR, replaces the aortic valve using a catheter-based procedure. Before any heart team can discuss whether that approach fits you, they need to see the aortic valve itself, not just a summary letter. The record that can change the conversation is the original imaging study and its written report, because it shows the valve anatomy, the surrounding structures and how the access vessels look.
A discharge summary that says 'severe aortic stenosis' is useful context, but it does not let a clinician measure the valve or plan a device. If you have a recent echocardiogram report but not the images, the report may still help the team understand the severity, yet they may ask for the actual study before giving a view. The same applies to a CT scan done for valve planning: the images and the radiologist's measurements are more informative together than either alone.
So the first practical question is not 'do I have enough records?' but 'which specific study is missing, and who holds the original files?' Write down the date, the hospital and the type of scan. That single line tells the receiving team what to request and tells you where to ask.
Who to Ask, and What to Say When You Ask
The fastest route is usually the department that performed the test, not the general reception desk. For an echocardiogram, ask the cardiology department or the echocardiography lab. For a CT or MRI, ask the radiology department. For a catheterisation report, ask the cath lab or the cardiology records office. If you were treated at a hospital abroad, its medical records department can often release a copy to you directly.
When you make the request, be specific. Ask for the DICOM files on a disc or secure transfer link, the written report, and the date of the study. If the images are already on a patient portal, download them rather than relying on a screenshot. A photograph of a monitor is not a substitute for the original file, because measurements and image quality are lost.
If language is a barrier, ask whether the hospital can provide an English report or a translated summary. If not, a professional medical interpreter can help you explain what you need, but the clinical content should come from the original documents. Keep a simple list of what you have requested and what you have received, so you do not ask the same office twice for the same item.
- Echocardiogram: request the full study and the report, not only the conclusion paragraph.
- CT or MRI: request the DICOM files and the radiologist's measurements.
- Catheterisation: request the procedure report and any pressure recordings.
- Discharge summaries and clinic letters: useful for context, but they do not replace the original imaging.
What the Heart Team Needs to See, and Why Each Piece Matters
A heart team reviewing a TAVR or TAVI case looks at several things together. The valve imaging shows the anatomy and the severity of the narrowing. The access-vessel imaging shows whether a catheter can reach the valve safely. The clinical history shows your symptoms, your other conditions and your current medicines. The laboratory results show how your kidneys and blood are working. No single document answers the whole question, but a missing imaging study can stop the review before it starts.
This is why a partial file can be more frustrating than an empty one. If the team has a report that mentions a CT but not the images, they may not be able to confirm the measurements. If they have images but no report, they may need a radiologist to re-read them. Either way, the review may pause while the missing piece is requested.
Ask the heart team how they review valve imaging for your case, which device options they are considering, and what they still need before they can give a view. Those three questions turn a vague 'send your records' request into a concrete list. They also help you avoid sending a large archive that does not include the one study the team actually needs.
Does a Missing Record Mean You Must Wait, or Can Review Start?
A missing record does not automatically mean you must delay all contact. You can begin an enquiry with a short summary of your diagnosis, your main question and a list of what you already have. The receiving team can then tell you what is still needed. This is different from a full clinical review, which needs the actual documents before anyone can comment on suitability.
Be careful not to treat a preliminary reply as a decision. A coordinator or an intake team may acknowledge your enquiry and ask for more records. That is not the same as a heart team saying you are suitable for TAVR or TAVI. Suitability depends on the valve anatomy, the access route, your other health conditions and the team's own assessment. Only the treating clinicians can confirm that.
If your symptoms are worsening, do not wait for an overseas review. Seek local medical care first. An overseas enquiry is a planning step, not an emergency service, and it should not replace assessment where you are.
How to Send Records Safely and Keep the Thread Clear
Once you know what is missing, decide how to send it. Many hospitals accept a secure upload link or a physical disc. Ask the receiving team which method they prefer before you send anything. Do not send original films or your only copy by post; keep the original and send a duplicate. If you use email, check whether the hospital permits clinical documents by that route, because some do not.
Label every file clearly with your name, the date of the study and the type of scan. A folder named 'CT 2025-03-14' is easier to process than 'scan1'. If you are sending several documents, include a one-page index that lists each item and its date. This small step reduces the chance that a key image is overlooked.
Keep a record of what you sent, when you sent it and to whom. If you are working with a coordinator, ask them to confirm receipt and to tell you which items are still outstanding. That confirmation is a practical checkpoint, not a clinical opinion.
What to Confirm Before You Plan Around a TAVR or TAVI Enquiry
Before you make travel plans, confirm a few practical points with the hospital or the team handling your enquiry. Ask whether the heart team has reviewed your records, what further documents they need, and whether they have given a view on suitability. Ask how the proposed device and the admission process would be arranged for your case, and what follow-up heart reviews would look like. These are questions to confirm, not assumptions to make.
If you are considering care in China, you can send a brief summary through the enquiry form, email or WhatsApp. An initial enquiry is free and does not require buying a proxy consultation. The team can help request records, arrange interpretation and forward documents to a specialist appointment request. They do not decide suitability, prescribe treatment or guarantee that a hospital will accept your case.
The practical next step is simple: list the missing record, ask the department that holds it for the original file and report, and send both to the team reviewing your case. Then ask what is still outstanding. That keeps the decision with the clinicians and keeps you from planning around an incomplete file.
Sources & scope of this guide
References and official service information relevant to this guide.
This is general planning information and has not been individually reviewed by a doctor. Medical decisions and personal treatment advice come from your treating clinicians.