Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Heart Valve Replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a nonsurgical procedure to treat stenosis (narrowing) of the aortic heart valves. If you're unable to have open-heart surgery to treat aortic stenosis, your Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) care team may recommend TAVR.

How TAVR Works

During the procedure, the doctor inserts an artificial valve by guiding a catheter (long, thin tube) through an artery. We can access the artery through a small incision (cut) in either your groin or your chest. Having new valve through the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) method can make a huge difference in your quality of life.

During TAVR, cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists work side-by-side to perform the procedure in a special, high-tech hybrid operating room. 

Determining Eligibility for TAVR

If we think transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) might be a good option for you, your doctor will take the following steps:

• Echocardiogram: This ultrasound of the heart shows how blood flows through your heart chambers and heart valves.
• Cardiac catheterization: During this procedure, your doctor inserts a catheter with contrast dye through your leg or wrist to assess the coronary arteries.
• CT angiography: Your doctor uses this CT scan of your heart, abdomen and pelvis with contrast dye to measure the shape and size of your aortic valve and blood vessels.
• Physical exams: You'll be evaluated by a structural heart nurse practitioner, an interventional cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon.
• Frailty testing: This is a questionnaire and walking test to help measure your strength and quality of life.

Leaders in Valve Replacement Innovation

Our cardiovascular team currently uses transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to replace stenotic aortic valves. In the future, we may use similar transcatheter approaches to fix mitral and pulmonary valve problems as well.

For many years, members of the CardioVascular Institute team have been leaders of clinical trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness of TAVR therapies. Today, we offer every synthetic valve commercially available.