Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

St. Luke’s is the first and only program in the area to offer TAVR, an alternative to traditional surgical aortic valve replacement if you have severe aortic valve stenosis. TAVR allows the replacement of your aortic valve without open heart surgery.

What to Expect with TAVR

A TAVR procedure is performed in an operating room under general anesthesia and typically takes about 1–2 hours.

During the procedure, a replacement aortic valve is delivered through a catheter inserted via a small puncture in the leg and guided through the arteries to the heart. Imaging equipment helps the surgical team position and place the new valve accurately. The heart continues to pump throughout the procedure, and once the new valve is in place, it begins functioning immediately to direct blood flow out of the heart.

After placement, the multidisciplinary team evaluates the valve’s position to ensure it’s working properly.