Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Our approach to TAVR

If you have aortic stenosis (narrowing or blockage of the aortic valve), we offer transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). By using a catheter-based approach, we can replace your aortic valve without you going through open-heart surgery. 

TAVR is a lifesaving procedure that can help alleviate your aortic stenosis symptoms, like fatigue and shortness of breath. In fact, many of our patients report that their symptoms are significantly better almost immediately after their TAVR procedure.

We’ll determine if you’re a candidate for TAVR by discussing:

• Your symptoms and quality of life
• Your goals for treatment 
• Your overall health history
• The risks and benefits of TAVR 
• Lifetime management strategy.

You’ll work closely with both your interventional cardiologist and heart surgeon to determine if TAVR is right for you.

Types of aortic stenosis treatment

Aortic stenosis is a serious heart condition that requires treatment. If left untreated, aortic stenosis can lead to life-threatening heart failure. 

The two types of aortic stenosis treatment are:

• Open-heart surgery: This is a major heart surgery that includes a large incision to open your chest. You’ll also need a heart-lung machine to take over your heart function during surgery. During the surgery, your surgeon removes your aortic valve and replaces it with a new valve.
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): TAVR is a less invasive approach to treat your valve disease, although remaining a major heart procedure, but it does not require your surgeon to open your chest. Instead, your doctors use a small incision in your groin and a catheter to access your heart and replace the valve.

Am I a candidate for TAVR?

More people than ever before may benefit from TAVR. When it first became available, TAVR was only available to older people who were considered too high risk for open heart surgery. 

Today, TAVR is an option for many more people who have severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. It became the treatment option of choice we offer for most patients, over the age of 65, suffering from this condition.

TAVR may be an option for you if:

• You experience symptoms of severe aortic stenosis
• You are considered high risk for open-heart valve replacement surgery
• You have other health conditions, such as previous heart attack or heart failure
• You’ve had valve replacement or open-heart surgery in the past

TAVR may not be an option for you if:

• You cannot tolerate blood thinner medications
• You have an active heart infection
• You have other aortic valve issues

Your doctor will talk to you about whether TAVR is right for you. They’ll also discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure to help you make the best choice for yourself.

Benefits of TAVR

Because it’s minimally invasive, your recovery after TAVR is typically easier compared to open-heart surgery. This includes:

• Less time in the hospital: After your TAVR procedure, you’ll typically spend about 24 to 48 hours recovering. Most people can go home the next day.
• Faster return to daily activities: You can typically return to your daily activities within a few days to one week after your TAVR procedure.

Other benefits of TAVR include fewer complications and fewer side effects.

What to expect with TAVR

On the day of your procedure, you’ll be admitted into the hospital. Most of our patients don’t require general anesthesia. Instead, your care team will give you moderate sedation to keep you asleep and comfortable.

Here’s what happens during TAVR:

• Your interventional cardiologist and heart surgeon will work together to perform the valve replacement. 
• They’ll start by making a small incision in your groin where they will insert the catheter.
• They’ll add the new heart valve to the end of the catheter and will then guide the catheter to your aortic valve.
• They’ll replace the old valve with the new valve.
• Your new valve will begin functioning immediately. 
• The procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes. 

Recovery after TAVR

After your TAVR, you’ll recover in the hospital for one to two days. During this time, your UCI Health care team will focus on monitoring you and managing any pain you may have.

They’ll also make sure that you are sitting up, breathing and walking comfortably before leaving the hospital. After your discharge from the hospital, you’ll spend the next week or so recovering at home. You should be able to get back into your daily activities within about a week.

You’ll continue to have follow-up appointments with your TAVR team to ensure that your new valve functions well.

Why choose UCI Health for a TAVR?

Multidisciplinary care

If you have aortic stenosis, it’s important to get care from a multidisciplinary team of specialists. That’s exactly what you’ll find at UCI Health. Our interventional cardiologists, structural heart specialists, heart surgeons and others team up to determine the best care plan for you. Together, they’ll work with you to determine the right procedure, type of valve and timing for valve replacement. 

Dedicated valve clinic

If you have aortic stenosis or other types of valve disease, collaborative care at the UCI Health valve clinic can help. At the clinic, you’ll see an interventional cardiologist and a heart surgeon, in many instances, at the same time. This allows you to get expert insight and treatment guidance from two specialists in just one visit. They’ll help you understand the pros and cons of surgical and catheter-based options to help determine what’s best for you.

Expertise in advanced aortic stenosis

 As the only academic health system in Orange County, UCI Health specializes in treating people with even the most advanced aortic stenosis. Other cardiologists throughout the region routinely refer and transfer patients to our heart care team when they are particularly challenging or complex. We have excellent outcomes for these patients thanks to our clinicians’ expertise, advanced technologies and robust support services.