What is TAVR?
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, TAVR for short, has been implanted in more than 70,000 patients worldwide. The procedure is best suited for patients who are not ideal candidates for traditional heart-valve replacement procedures. The TAVR procedure forgoes opening the chest to access the heart, an operation that can cause complications for patients who are already weakened, or those with other underlying health conditions. During the procedure, doctors run a tiny artificial heart valve through a vein in the groin, up into the aortic chambers of the patient’s heart. The new valve is put in place and begins. Recovery time for patients is far less than traditional open-heart procedures.