Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Dignity Health Heart and Vascular Institute is home to one of the largest and most recognized cardiac and cardiovascular care teams in the state. This includes a multidisciplinary team which has extensive experience and has performed more than 1000 TAVR procedures. The TAVR physicians are trained to implant various FDA-approved devices and we offer access to additional technology through clinical research trials.

TAVR Procedure at Dignity Health Heart and Vascular Institute

Aortic Stenosis is a progressive narrowing of the aortic valve resulting in reduction of blood flow out of the heart. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that treats aortic stenosis without requiring open heart surgery. The valve is loaded through a catheter, inserted into an artery and advance to the narrowed aortic valve for deployment. TAVR is FDA-approved for patients who are low, intermediate, and at high-risk for surgical aortic valve replacement.

Benefits of TAVR

• Faster recovery times
• Less pain
• Improvement in quality of life

What to Expect During the TAVR Procedure

During TAVR, your cardiologist places the valve into the heart through a catheter inserted into an artery in the groin, rather than through an opening in the chest. The valve is placed inside the aortic valve and inflated. TAVR patients recover faster with less pain than patients undergoing open chest valve replacement. 

In addition, Dignity Health Heart and Vascular Institute is a select site for TAVR clinical research, offering the latest valve designs, deployment methods, and access for patients who may not otherwise be eligible for TAVR.