Replacing a Valve Without Open Heart Surgery
Patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis who are too high a risk for open heart surgery can now improve symptoms and extend their life by undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
An Alternative for High-Risk Patients
Patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis who are too high a risk for open heart surgery can now improve symptoms and extend their life by undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
Instead of performing open heart surgery to remove the damaged aortic valve, doctors use a catheter to insert a new replacement valve into the diseased aortic valve. Once the new valve is expanded, it pushes the leaflets of the old valve aside, using them to secure the new valve in place.
Also known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), the efficacy and safety of this procedure in lower-risk patients is still being assessed. If your patient has severe aortic stenosis, refer them to the North Memorial Health Heart & Vascular team to determine their best treatment option. Simply call 763-581-5402 to learn more.
Who is the Ideal Candidate?
Typically, TAVR/TAVI is best suited for patients who are at intermediate or greater risk for open heart surgery due to:
- Age
- Current health status
- Medical history
- Frailty
- Heart condition