Heart and Vascular Hospital

The aortic valve controls blood flow from the heart to the body. In some people, the valve becomes stiff and has trouble opening. This condition is called aortic stenosis. It is a progressive disease. In aortic stenosis, the heart has to work harder to push blood through the valve to the rest of the body. Over time, the extra stress can cause the heart muscle to get weaker. People who have aortic stenosis can feel tired and short of breath and have chest pain and fainting.

At Hackensack University Medical Center, our multidisciplinary team is offering transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as a life-changing option for many patients with aortic stenosis. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that allows our cardiac experts to repair a valve without removing it. If you have aortic stenosis and your doctor feels that traditional open-heart surgery may be a risk, TAVR can be an option for you. TAVR is sometimes recommended for people who are older, have a weaker heart, had previous heart surgery or radiation to the chest, history of stroke, or have chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, or chronic obstructive lung disease.

TAVR is performed through a catheter, which is a thin flexible tube. The catheter is usually placed in the femoral artery in your groin. Sometimes it is placed through a small incision on the left side of your chest instead. Your surgeon brings the new valve to your heart through the catheter. Because this is a minimally invasive procedure, most patients leave the hospital within 1 – 2 days and can resume normal activities within 3 – 4 days after the procedure. Many patients report feeling much better after TAVR. That is because a new heart valve can help ease the symptoms you may have had.

The TAVR team at Hackensack University Medical Center includes highly trained and experienced physicians and healthcare professionals. Our cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists have performed hundreds of aortic valve operations, catheterizations and diagnostic studies. A specially-trained cardiac anesthesiologist participates in all procedures, and our TAVR coordinator ensures continuity of care from your initial referral through your discharge.