TAVR: Effective Replacement. Safe Solution.
Our highly skilled and experienced surgeons were some of the first in the state to perform Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). A less-invasive option than open-heart surgery, TAVR provides a safer alternative if you are not able to undergo traditional surgeries.
Our fast-growing TAVR program is one of the largest in the Southeast, and those volumes are matched with outcomes that exceed the national average.
What is TAVR?
This catheter-based procedure replaces your diseased or damaged aortic valve without having to surgically remove it. This may decrease your recovery time without the major impact of an open-heart procedure.
Who’s a good candidate for TAVR?
There are multiple factors your care team will consider before deciding if you’re a good candidate for TAVR surgery. Our top cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, and cardiothoracic surgeons will work together to diagnose you and determine the best treatment possible. Typically, a TAVR procedure is suggested if you are considered high-risk for open-heart surgery; however, recently, the FDA approved TAVR for moderate-risk patients as well. AdventHealth is also currently participating in a clinical trial to see if TAVR is beneficial for those who are low-risk.
How does TAVR work?
Our multidisciplinary team will approach the heart via the femoral artery (a large vein in your groin), or a tiny incision in your chest, and guide the new valve into place through a catheter. At the end of the catheter is a balloon-like device. The device will be wrapped very tightly around the balloon and once everything is in place, the balloon will be inflated. As it expands, it will push the damaged valve to the side, allowing the new valve to take the place of the old without the need for invasive, open-heart surgery.
Questions about TAVR? Your dedicated Cardiac Concierge can provide you more information about this procedure.