TAVR
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces a narrowing, diseased aortic valve (aortic stenosis). TAVR is an option if your condition is considered too high risk for traditional open-heart surgery.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in Kansas City
With narrowing arteries, the timing of treatment is crucial to ensure the most positive outcomes.
As people age, their aortic valve can narrow. This condition, called aortic stenosis, can cause the heart to work harder to get the blood through, creating a shortage of blood to your organs. At HCA Midwest Health, our cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons offer an advanced, minimally invasive solution, called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
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Understanding your heart health is a valuable preventive care tool. Take our assessment to determine your risk of heart disease and next steps to take.
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About us
Our priority is improving quality of life that may have become impacted by cardiovascular issues. TAVR is an effective procedure that improves vascular health, while minimizing stress on your body.
Personal, experienced cardiac care
Symptoms of a narrowing aortic valve can significantly impact your daily routine, limiting your ability to accomplish everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping or gardening. Once symptoms develop, serious, long-term health concerns can arise. To combat this, we proudly perform TAVR at the HCA Midwest Health Heart & Vascular Institute’s Structural Heart Clinic, located at Research Medical Center. When you work with the accomplished cardiology specialists in this facility, you become subject to numerous benefits, including:
- Multidisciplinary team approach to care — Our team of highly-skilled cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons collaborate to develop the optimal treatment plan for your unique condition.
- One location — Diagnosis, evaluation and both development and implementation of treatment in one convenient location.
- Personalized care — At your appointment, your care coordinator will guide and escort you to each test and heart specialist, demonstrating our commitment to treating you the way we would treat our own loved ones.
Is the TAVR procedure right for me?
Aortic valve replacement is recommended if you are experiencing severe aortic stenosis. In the past, replacing the aortic valve meant major, open surgery, including cutting the chest bone, stopping the heart and opening the heart to replace the valve.
Open-heart surgery is often too risky for those over 70 years old, or who have other conditions, such as a diabetes diagnosis. With clinical trials demonstrating the success of TAVR, we are also using this method for those who are younger and at a lower risk. The benefits of this approach include faster recovery, less pain and fewer complications than open-heart surgery.
As with any procedure, there are risks that should be discussed with your physician. To find out if TAVR is an option for you, talk to one of our specialists about a referral to the HCA Midwest Health Structural Heart Clinic.
Aortic stenosis
The heart's aortic valve is a three-leaflet valve that acts as the major valve between the heart and the aorta. The aorta is a large blood vessel that distributes blood throughout the body. The top part of the aorta pushes blood and oxygen to the head and brain, while the bottom part of the aorta is responsible for sending blood through the rest of the body. The purpose of the aortic valve is to prevent the backflow of blood. When the heart pumps, the valve opens to let blood out and then closes again.
Aortic stenosis occurs when calcium builds up on the valve's leaflets, preventing it from opening all the way. Calcium buildup typically occurs as people get older, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood through the valve. Aortic stenosis can also cause a shortage of blood supply to the organs, however, aortic stenosis does not always cause symptoms. As the condition progresses to severe aortic stenosis, symptoms may appear that affect daily life, such as:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty completing daily activities (i.e. walking or getting dressed)
- Dizziness
- Extreme fatigue
- Fainting (syncope)
- Shortness of breath
TAVR recovery
When properly diagnosed and treated, TAVR can help bring about a longer and improved quality of life. If you are experiencing severe aortic stenosis, symptoms can significantly improve or even resolve, and you can quickly return to your version of a normal lifestyle.
After the procedure, you can expect to be in the hospital for about three to five days. Our inpatient cardiac rehabilitation team will begin working with you on the day of your procedure, and, typically, are able to help you resume regular activity within about 10 days. Your TAVR team will give you specific follow-up instructions, but many times care includes:
- Follow-up phone calls from your TAVR hospital care team a few days after discharge to check on your symptoms, medications and health.
- Subsequent office visit with your TAVR doctor within 30 days of the procedure. This visit will likely include an echocardiogram to check your new valve. Other tests may also be ordered, depending on your progress.
From there, your general cardiologist or primary care doctor will develop a follow-up care plan to fit your unique needs. Following this type of procedure, we historically recommend that your heart should be checked yearly by a cardiologist.
Videos about our TAVR services
What is TAVR?
With transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a cardiologist inserts a new, bioprosthetic aortic valve on a long catheter through an artery in the leg. The doctor then makes sure the new valve is working correctly before closing the incision. The procedure takes about one to two hours to complete.
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