Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Minimally Invasive Aortic Stenosis Treatment in Central Massachusetts and Beyond

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a minimally invasive procedure for people with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis. This advanced procedure helps you get relief from fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain without surgery. It can also improve your quality of life and prevent heart failure if you’re too sick, or considered low-, intermediate, or  high risk for open-heart surgery. 

What Is Aortic Stenosis? 

Aortic stenosis is a narrowed aortic valve. It’s usually the result of atherosclerosis, a build-up of fatty substances in and around your heart. Aortic stenosis restricts blood flow to your aorta, the blood vessel that supplies blood to your body. Aortic stenosis can cause chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and other symptoms. Left untreated, it can lead to heart failure. 

What to Expect During TAVR

TAVR is a catheter-guided procedure to replace a failing aortic valve with a mechanical (metal) or bioprosthetic (tissue) valve. An interventional cardiologist performs TAVR in our state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab. The procedure takes one to two hours. 

During the procedure, your doctor: 

• Makes a small cut in your upper leg or near your collar bone
• Inserts a catheter (thin tube) containing a folded artificial valve into a blood vessel
• Uses imaging guidance to thread the catheter through the blood vessel to your heart
• Expands the new valve inside your existing valve
• Makes sure the new valve works before removing the catheter and closing the incision

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement

TAVR offers a variety of advantages over surgical heart valve replacement, including: 

• Easier recovery
• Lower risk of complications
• Reduced procedure time
• Shorter hospital stay

Nationally Recognized TAVR Expertise

UMass Memorial Medical Center is proud to have a 3-star rating for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons American College of Cardiology’s Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry, the only site in New England to have this rating.