Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a procedure for select patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis - a narrowing of the aortic valve opening.

While open-heart aortic valve replacement surgery has been the standard treatment for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, less invasive approaches are now available for patients who may not be candidates for open surgery. These inoperable or extremely high-risk patients may be unable to undergo traditional surgery because of factors such as age, history of heart disease, frailty or other health issues.

For these patients, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, may be an option. The TAVR procedure allows physicians to replace a diseased aortic valve without open-heart surgery. TAVR enables the placement of a heart valve into the body with a catheter, which allows the valve to be inserted through a small incision into an artery. Typical hospital stay is overnight.

View Video | Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

How it's done

The TAVR valve that will open and close to regulate the flow of blood is made of a bovine (cow) heart valve stitched inside of an expandable stainless steel scaffold, or stent.

The TAVR procedure is mostly performed under local anesthesia, in a hybrid operating room. A cardiothoracic surgeon, an interventional cardiologist and a clinic coordinator work together, utilizing fluoroscopy and echocardiography to guide the valve to the site of the patient's diseased heart valve.

 

The most exciting aspect of the TAVR procedure is that it provides hope when there were no previous options. The transcatheter (TAVR) valve offers some patients the potential of a longer life with better quality. The TAVR procedure generally is performed in much less time than open-heart surgery. Additionally, open-heart surgery can require a two- to three-month recovery period, compared to the recovery period of only a few days with the transcatheter (TAVR) approach.

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TAVR Criteria

All potential candidates will be assessed and educated by our specially trained team, consisting of a cardiothoracic surgeon, an interventional cardiologist and a clinic coordinator. Together they will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether the TAVR procedure is an appropriate option for the patient.

Broward Health Medical Center provides the most advanced valve replacement surgeries and treatments using a multidisciplinary approach. Our structural heart program regularly handles the most complex cases in the region with excellent outcomes, including the TAVR valve replacement.

Who to contact

If you are a referring physician or patient and would like to more information about the TAVR procedure or the structural heart program at Broward Health Medical Center, please contact us at:

Broward Heart Valve Center
1625 SE 3rd Ave | Suite 300
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Phone: 954-761-2328
Fax: 954-355-4881