Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
If you have aortic stenosis, you may benefit from a minimally invasive treatment called TAVR. You’ll be in experienced hands at the Adventist HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute at White Oak Medical Center, which has performed this procedure longer than any other hospital in the region. Take advantage of this innovative treatment that can help you feel better and improve your quality of life.
Do I Need TAVR?
Your doctor may recommend TAVR to replace a narrowed heart valve that doesn’t let blood flow freely to the aorta, your body’s largest artery. TAVR is a less invasive alternative to surgical valve replacement. That means a faster, easier recovery and a lower risk of complications (side effects). You may qualify for TAVR even if you’re healthy enough for surgery.
If you’ve already received a new aortic valve through surgery, but the valve has worn down, you may benefit from valve-in-valve TAVR.
How Can Treatment Help Me?
Compared to medications for aortic stenosis, TAVR may offer more relief from symptoms such as:
- Chest pain
- Fainting or lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Heart murmur
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
What to Expect
You’ll lie on a table while an interventional cardiologist makes a tiny incision over an artery in your upper thigh or wrist. The doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter that carries a new valve up to your heart. The physician places the valve and then withdraws the catheter from your artery. The new valve’s leaflets fully open and close, letting blood flow through as it should.
TAVR usually takes less than two hours.
Recovery & Rehabilitation
You’ll stay in the hospital for one or two days while your doctor and nurses monitor your health to make sure you heal well. When you’re ready to leave, you’ll receive instructions on how to take care of yourself at home, along with a referral for home healthcare, if needed. Your cardiologist may recommend cardiac rehabilitation to help you safely regain strength and endurance. You’ll also make a follow-up appointment with your doctor.
