South Texas Health System

Federico E. Azpurua, MD, FACC

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: (Physician referral may be required.) Schedule online at sthsclinics.com or call 956-630-5522

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Locations in McAllen and Weslaco

Understanding TAVR: A Minimally Invasive Valve Replacement Option for Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis

Dr . Azpurua, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, shares key insights on an innovative procedure known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, or TAVR. This is a less-invasive valve replacement option for those with severe aortic stenosis.

Q: What makes someone a good candidate for TAVR?

At first TAVR was recommended for patients who were at such high risk for traditional valve replacement surgery that they were basically deemed inoperable. Since then, TAVR has been approved for patients at moderate risk and even those deemed low risk. We can now offer this procedure to any patient with severe aortic stenosis whose heart and arteries are considered adequate for the devices available. It’s also best for patients over 65 years old.

Q: What can a patient expect when undergoing a TAVR procedure?

Usually, the patient gets to the hospital the day of the procedure and is taken to a cath lab or a hybrid OR. They undergo general anesthesia or moderate sedation and, in the vast majority of cases, the procedure is done via the arteries in the groin.

In most instances, the procedure lasts around one hour, after which the patient wakes up and is transferred to a room for further monitoring. They could be out of bed in as little as four to six hours after the procedure and walking that same day. Most commonly, the patient can expect to stay in the hospital for about 24-48 hours.

Q: How does the patient prepare beforehand?

To prepare, the patient should expect to undergo a heart catheterization to assess the coronaries (the arteries of the heart) and a CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Some patients, depending upon the complexity of the case, will require a few additional imaging studies. The patient needs to be seen by a cardiothoracic surgeon and a cardiologist. The case is then reviewed and discussed at length with the cardiovascular team.

Q: How is the patient’s recovery likely to differ from a more traditional valve replacement?

Compared to open-heart surgery, TAVR is a shorter procedure that has been proven to be as good and even better in most of the measured parameters. The recovery is very fast and the patient can typically return to regular life after a couple of days compared to weeks or even months after traditional valve replacement surgery*.