Apparatus for implanting a heart valve and removing debris from a blood vessel, composed of: a collapsible and deployable filter for blocking debris in a blood vessel in a patient's body; a circular cuff coupled to a small diameter end of the filter and defining a through passage extending from the small diameter end, the cuff having, at a first end, an internal diameter coaxial with a circular opening at the small diameter end of the filter; a first sheath for housing the filter in its collapsed state and having a length sufficient to extend out of a patient's body when the filter is at a desired location in a blood vessel; and an assembly for implanting a prosthetic valve in the patient's heart, said assembly comprising a second sheath and a catheter housed in the second sheath and carrying an implantable valve.