Aortic stenosis is a common heart condition that is caused by the narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve from a buildup of calcium deposits. When the valve narrows and becomes stiff, it does not open or close properly, which makes the heart work harder to pump blood through the body. Over time, this can cause the heart to weaken and function poorly, which can lead to heart failure. Once patients begin to experience symptoms of aortic stenosis, the survival rate is poor, *with only 50% of patients surviving two years and 20% surviving five years if left untreated. Aortic stenosis has a worse prognosis than most metastatic cancers without valve replacement.
What is aortic stenosis?
TAVR –
An Alternative to
Open-Heart Surgery
If you have aortic stenosis,
this less-invasive procedure
may be an option
Interventional Cardiologist, Devang Desai, MD, FACC, FSCAI, explains that one way to treat severe aortic stenosis is by open-heart surgery, but open-heart surgery can carry a bigger risk for older patients and for patients with complex health issues. However, a less-invasive option to treat aortic stenosis is Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, also known as TAVR, where the heart valve is replaced using a catheter-based method through the arteries in the leg.
Are you a candidate for TAVR?
All patients with symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis should be evaluated for TAVR by a comprehensive Structural Heart team. This team includes an Interventional Cardiologist, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Cardiac Anesthesiologist, Structural Heart Nurse Navigator, and Cardiac Catheterization Lab staff.
Unfortunately, not all patients are candidates for TAVR, especially those with multi-vessel coronary disease or with multiple heart valves that need repair or replacement. However, TAVR may be the answer for low-risk patients who want an alternative option to open-heart surgery and for high-risk patients that are not candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement.
TAVR may be the answer for low-risk patients who want an alternative option to open-heart surgery and for high-risk patients that are not candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement.
How TAVR works
TAVR is usually performed through the femoral artery in the leg, where a new valve is guided through the arteries into the heart on a catheter. The new valve is inserted without removing the diseased valve and it begins to function immediately to allow oxygen-rich blood to flow efficiently out of the heart. TAVR can also be performed through alternative access when necessary.
At Sierra Medical Center, an Extension of Northern Nevada Medical Center, TAVR is performed under general anesthesia and the procedure lasts around one hour. Once the patient is awake, they are transferred to the telemetry floor for further monitoring. Patients can be out of bed in as little as four to six hours after the procedure and are usually walking that same day. Most commonly, TAVR patients can expect to stay in the hospital for 24-48 hours.
TAVR is a much shorter procedure compared to open-heart surgery. The recovery is shorter too, and patients can typically return to normal activity within a week, as compared to several weeks or even months after surgical valve replacement.
*Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if minimally invasive surgery is right for you.
Learn more about TAVR at Sierra Medical Center
Virginia Yagerhofer had the TAVR procedure at Sierra Medical Center and tells of her great patient experience.
Some symptoms of aortic stenosis include:
Heart
Murmurs
Fainting
Dizziness
Chest
Pains
Shortness
of
Breath
Fatigue
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Jamii Uboldi
System Director, Marketing
Helen Lidholm
Chief Executive Officer
Northern Nevada Medical Center
Jim Bradley
Chief Operations Officer
Sierra Medical Center
Information in Living Well comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos or illustrations. Any opinions expressed by an author whose article appears in this publication are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Northern Nevada Health System. Physicians mentioned in this publication are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northern Nevada Health System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.
©2024. All rights reserved.
Northern Nevada Medical Center
2375 E. Prater Way
Sparks, NV 89434
775-331-7000
Sierra Medical Center, an Extension
of Northern Nevada Medical Center
6500 Longley Ln
Reno, NV 89511
775-799-7320
Jamii Uboldi
System Director, Marketing
Helen Lidholm
Chief Executive Officer,
Northern Nevada Medical Center
Jim Bradley
Chief Operations Officer,
Sierra Medical Center
Information in Living Well comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos or illustrations. Any opinions expressed by an author whose article appears in this publication are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Northern Nevada Health System. Physicians mentioned in this publication are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northern Nevada Health System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.
©2023. All rights reserved.
Northern Nevada Medical Center
2345 E. Prater Way
Sparks, NV 89434
775-331-7000
Sierra Medical Center
6500 Longley Ln
Reno, NV 89511
775-799-7320
More Stories
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Strokes can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race or gender. Know the signs so you can act quickly.
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TAVR
If you have aortic stenosis, surgery may be risky. TAVR is a less-invasive treatment option.
Jamii Uboldi
System Director, Marketing
Helen Lidholm
Chief Executive Officer,
Northern Nevada Medical Center
Jim Bradley
Chief Operations Officer,
Sierra Medical Center
Information in Living Well comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos or illustrations. Any opinions expressed by an author whose article appears in this publication are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Northern Nevada Health System. Physicians mentioned in this publication are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northern Nevada Health System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.
©2023. All rights reserved.
Northern Nevada Medical Center
2345 E. Prater Way
Sparks, NV 89434
775-331-7000
Sierra Medical Center
6500 Longley Ln
Reno, NV 89511
775-799-7320
More Stories
Read more about strokes
Spot a Stroke
Strokes can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race or gender. Know the signs so you can act quickly.
Read more from the doctor
Ask The Doctor
If you have atrial fibrillation, you may be a candidate.
Read more about TAVR
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If you have aortic stenosis, surgery may be risky. TAVR is a less-invasive treatment option.
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“This procedure truly saves lives,” says Dr. Desai. “Especially in older patients for whom open-heart surgery is not an option. It’s wonderful to have this technology here at Sierra Medical Center to give patients a better quality of life.”
*Source: National Institutes of Health