Having aortic stenosis, also called aortic valve stenosis, once meant open heart surgery. But now, people with this condition have access to a less invasive alternative.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an innovative procedure that offers a safer, faster path to recovery with fewer complications.
Aortic stenosis is the most common heart valve disorder, affecting 2.5 million people in the United States. Here’s what you need to know about replacing a damaged aortic valve with TAVR.
What Is Aortic Stenosis?
Aortic stenosis occurs when calcium deposits build up in the aortic valve. This causes the valve to narrow, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of your body.
“Imagine all of the blood in your body squeezing through something the size of a straw,” says Michael Lazar, MD, MHA, cardiac surgeon with the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. “In response, your heart works harder to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.”
What Are the 4 Stages of Aortic Stenosis?
Aortic stenosis has four stages determined by the level of damage in your valve and how much blood can pass through it.
“As the heart muscle thickens and stiffens, pressure begins to back up into the lungs, leading to shortness of breath,” Dr. Lazar says. “As the condition progresses, reduced blood flow through the narrowed valve can limit oxygen delivery to the brain, causing episodes of fainting (syncope). Over time, the strain on the heart may lead to weakening or damage of the muscle itself, ultimately resulting in heart failure.”
Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing severe complications. Your doctor will listen to your heart and run tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or an MRI, to diagnose you with aortic stenosis and determine your stage:
- Mild — You’re at risk for valve disease.
- Moderate — The disease is moderate but progressing, with no symptoms.
- Severe — You have damage to your valve but no obvious symptoms.
- Critical — Your symptoms are severe.
Aortic stenosis symptoms
Not everyone with aortic stenosis has symptoms. You may also only notice them during physical activity. The common signs of this heart valve disorder include:
What Is TAVR?
TAVR is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure to replace a damaged aortic valve without open heart surgery.
Traditional surgery can be risky, especially for older adults and people with other health issues. But even if you’re at low risk, you can still benefit from TAVR. Compared with open heart surgery, people who have TAVR often feel less pain, spend less time in the hospital, and recover more quickly.
During the TAVR procedure, your surgeon will:
- Make a small incision in either your groin, neck, or side of the chest.
- Use this opening to guide a thin, flexible tube called a catheter through the blood vessel to your heart.
- Deliver a new valve through the catheter and position it inside the diseased aortic valve.
Once the new valve is in place, it “pushes the calcium aside so the valve can open and close properly again,” says Dr. Lazar.
Compared to open heart surgery, patients who undergo TAVR usually feel less pain, spend less time in the hospital, and recover more quickly. The entire procedure lasts about an hour, and most patients can go home the next day.
UPMC’s Expertise in TAVR
With more than a decade of experience, UPMC is a recognized national leader in performing TAVR for aortic stenosis. We rank among the top 1% of hospitals in the U.S. by procedure volume.
UPMC treats a wide range of people with TAVR, from those with low surgical risk to people with complex medical histories and challenging anatomies.
If you receive an aortic stenosis diagnosis, talk to your doctor about whether TAVR might be the right treatment option for you.