Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

If you suffer from severe aortic stenosis, you don't have to travel far for innovative heart surgery. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) at Bronson could help you get back to a higher quality of life.

What causes severe aortic stenosis

TAVR is performed to treat severe aortic valve stenosis, a condition associated with heart valve disease when the opening of the valve is narrowed.

Once this occurs, the valve does not open and close properly. This can cause the valve to leak blood. If the valve does not pump blood away from the heart properly, pressure can build up and cause damage. TAVR may be the best option for you because it does not require open-heart surgery which means less recovery time for your body.

Most experienced TAVR team in the region

Bronson Methodist Hospital is the only hospital in the region chosen to offer four approaches for this innovative life-saving procedure:

• Transaortic: Heart valve is placed through a small incision on the upper right side of the chest
• Transfemoral: Heart valve is placed through a blood vessel in the groin
• Transiliac:Heart valve is placed through a small incision in the abdomen
• Transapical: Heart valve is placed through a small incision on the left side of the chest

You can count on us. Our team has a 96.3 percent success rate for TAVR procedures which is higher than the national average of 92 percent.

How to learn if TAVR is right for you

You may be a candidate for TAVR if you have moderate or severe aortic stenosis. Symptoms of this disease include:

• Chest pain or tightness in the chest
• Dizziness, feeling faint or fainting when exerted
• Fatigue
• Irregular heartbeat

Talk to one of our cardiac specialists if you’ve experienced any of these symptoms and to determine if a TAVR procedure is right for you.

Collaborative team approach

Our TAVR team consists of a wide range of specialists including cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists and radiologists who all work closely with you and other heart and vascular specialists. Our goal is to always have a treatment plan that is both coordinated and personalized to fit the best possible outcome for you.