What Can I Expect During TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement)?

Your aortic valve controls blood flow carrying oxygen from your heart to the rest of your body. When it malfunctions, your heart must work harder to push blood through. Left untreated, severe aortic stenosis causes dizziness and fainting, chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, heart failure and a marked, sharp drop in life expectancy.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) replaces damaged valves without open-heart surgery. The procedure has become the preferred option for most patients with severe aortic stenosis, regardless whether they are high, intermediate or low surgical risk. The most recent long-term data shows that TAVR is comparable to and even slightly better outcomes with a 75% lower risk than the open heart surgery.

At Advanced Cardiovascular Care, Inc. in Riverside, California, board-certified cardiologist Syed W. Bokhari, MD, FACC, FSVM, who specializes in TAVR evaluates patients for TAVR and coordinates care throughout the procedure and recovery. Here’s what the process typically entails.

Before the TAVR procedure: Testing and preparation

You undergo extensive testing before TAVR to confirm you’re a candidate and to measure your anatomy. That includes:

Echocardiography to assess valve function and heart structure
Computed tomography (CT) scan to measure valve size and plan catheter access
Cardiac catheterization to evaluate the coronary arteries
Blood work and standard pre-procedure tests

Dr. Bokhari reviews these results with the hospital’s Heart team to confirm TAVR is the right approach. You receive instructions on which medications to stop or continue and when to stop eating and drinking before the procedure.

How the valve replacement happens

Dr. Bokhari and his team perform in a specialized catheter lab equipped with advanced imaging equipment. The procedure typically takes a couple of hours.

You can expect to receive sedation and local anesthesia at the catheter insertion site, though some patients need general anesthesia depending on their medical condition. Dr. Bokhari makes a small incision, usually in your groin, and inserts a catheter into your femoral artery.

The catheter carries the collapsed replacement valve up through your blood vessels to your heart. Imaging guides placement to ensure the new valve precisely replaces the old one.

Once positioned, the valve expands — either by inflating a balloon or through a self-expanding mechanism. The old valve’s calcium gets pushed aside and compressed against the artery wall.

Immediate recovery after TAVR

Many patients go home after just an overnight stay at the hospital for observation. You spend the first few hours in a recovery area where the medical team monitors for complications such as:

Bleeding at the insertion site
Vascular injury to the arteries
Irregular heart rhythms
Heart attack
Stroke

Some patients may need a permanent pacemaker after TAVR depending on their heart’s electrical system.

TAVR recovery at home and follow-up

Most people feel significantly better within a week or so after TAVR as their heart no longer has to work as hard to pump blood.

During recovery at home:

Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for a few weeks
Walking is encouraged and helps with recovery
Watch for signs of infection at the insertion site
Take medications as prescribed

Follow-up appointments monitor valve function and check for complications. You need echocardiograms at regular intervals to ensure the valve continues working properly.

If you have severe aortic stenosis and have been told you need valve replacement, TAVR may offer a less invasive option than traditional surgery. Call Advanced Cardiovascular Care, Inc. at 951-682-6900 or schedule an appointment online today.