Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

The heart specialists at SSM Health offer a minimally invasive procedure to treat aortic valve stenosis. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, commonly referred to as TAVR, an effective treatment for aortic stenosis. Any patient that has been diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis should be considered for this less invasive option and evaluated by the multidisciplinary heart team.

Unlike traditional open chest surgeries to replace a heart valve, TAVR requires only a small incision in the leg or chest wall. This procedure enables the placement of a catheter guided heart valve. There are several approaches your physician may consider depending on your anatomy:

• Transfemoral – the catheter is inserted in the groin area
• Transcarotid - the catheter is inserted through the artery in the neck
• Subclavian - the catheter is inserted through an artery under your clavical
• Transapical – the catheter is inserted through the bottom of the heart
• Transaortic – the catheter is inserted through the top of the aorta

About Aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis refers to a condition where the aortic valve inside the heart does not open fully, reducing the amount of blood flow through the heart and to the body. This puts added stress on your heart as it works harder to pump blood through the damaged valve. Patients with moderate or severe aortic stenosis have advanced stages of this condition and may notice symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and sometimes fainting.

How is TAVR preformed?

• After the procedure starts, your surgeon will make a small incision in the artery in upper leg through the groin area (if this access point will not work with your anatomy your surgeon will use a different access point). A catheter is inserted to help guide the valve safely into position using special x-ray equipment.
• Once the new valve is guided into position over the diseased heart valve it is opened, attached to the old valve and anchored into position, replacing the narrowed valve.
• As soon as the new heart valve is opened, it immediately begins working.

Benefits of the Procedure

As a minimally invasive procedure, TAVR has a few distinct advantages over traditional, open heart valve surgery, including:

• Improved quality of life and increasing longevity
• Less invasive with minimal scarring and discomfort
• Shorter hospital stays with most patient going home the next day
• Faster recovery

For the millions of patients with aortic valve stenosis, TAVR has proven to not only improve quality of life, but significantly prolong one’s life following the procedure.

Who is Eligible for TAVR?

TAVR is suitable for patients with moderate or severe aortic stenosis. Any patient that has been diagnosed with moderate to severe aortic valve stenosis should be considered for this less invasive option and evaluated by the multidisciplinary heart team.