Your aortic valve is responsible for maintaining blood flow from your heart’s lower chamber to your aorta — your body’s main artery. If that valve narrows or gets stiff, your heart works harder to pump blood, and you may need a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
At Baptist Health, our expert cardiac surgeons are ready to provide this minimally invasive procedure that places a new, healthy valve inside your old, diseased one. It reduces the stress on your heart and lowers your risk of developing heart failure.
When Should You Get a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement?
Over time, calcium can build up in your aortic valve. This is called atherosclerosis, and it can narrow your valve tissue and make it stiff. As a result, the valve can’t open and close fully, so your blood doesn’t flow as well.
TAVR is a good option for patients who aren’t candidates for open-heart surgery due to older age or other health problems. Your doctor may recommend a TAVR if you have:
- An aortic tissue valve that isn’t working correctly.
- A different health condition that could make open-heart valve replacement surgery risky.
- Severe aortic stenosis that causes significant symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.
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