Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
TAVR is a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery to replace the aortic valve in people with aortic valve stenosis. Aortic valve stenosis occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows, preventing it from fully opening and obstructing blood flow from the heart.
TAVR is much less invasive than open-heart surgery, which requires opening the patient's chest and stopping the heart using a heart-lung machine while the surgeon removes the old valve and sews in the new one. With TAVR, surgeons can replace the diseased aortic heart valve using a skinny, flexible tube (catheter) threaded through the leg, upper chest, or between the ribs. TAVR valve replacement doesn't require stopping the heart or, typically, any chest incisions. In most cases, TAVR results in a shorter hospital stay and a quicker return to normal activities.