TAVR - Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

In this section:

Overview

What is TAVR

Treatments

Our Team

Minimally Invasive Heart Care

At Luminis Health, we take heart care seriously. Our dedicated structural heart team can diagnose and treat many heart conditions, such as valve disorders. Finding out that you need a heart valve replacement can be a shock — but rest assured you're in good hands with our team.

young woman nurse checking patient heartbeat

overview

What is TAVR?

TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that delivers artificial valves using small catheters (tubes) to avoid the need for open-heart surgery.

TAVR treats severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis (AS) is the narrowing of the aortic valve opening that results from stiff valve leaflets that don’t move easily or open fully.

This can be caused by factors including:

Age
Birth defects
Rheumatic fever
Radiation
Build-up on the leaflets of calcium, cholesterol, etc.

Signs that you might have aortic stenosis include:

Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Fainting
Chest pain
Feeling tired
Swelling in your legs
Rapid or fluttering heartbeat
Difficulty walking even short distances
Trouble sleeping
Needing to sleep sitting up
Avoiding activities you used to enjoy

Is TAVR Right for You?

For many years, open heart surgery was the standard treatment for aortic stenosis. In 2012, the FDA approved TAVR for people with high surgical risk. In 2019, it was approved for those with low surgical risk and became the most common method to replace the aortic valve. Our team at Luminis Health will review your medical history and determine which technique is best for you.

TAVR uses a collapsible replacement valve. Doctors insert the new valve with a thin, flexible tube (catheter) through another blood vessel. The new valve expands in place over the existing valve and begins working right away.

With TAVR, many people go home the next day. You may return to daily activities like exercising and driving within a few weeks.

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