Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery
Changing the face of treatment for patients with aortic stenosis
Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California, has an experienced Valve Clinic, and we are proud to offer the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program to residents in the Central Valley. Our TAVR surgery team is composed of a multidisciplinary, collaborative group of physicians and caregivers, including interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, imaging specialists, anesthesiologists, advanced care nurses and valve clinic coordinators.
Our cohesive approach embodies optimal patient-centric care and collaborative treatment decisions. The team will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of patients with aortic stenosis to determine whether the TAVR procedure is appropriate and what treatment plans they recommend.
We accept most insurance and transfers from hospitals across the Central Valley and beyond. For referrals and more information about the TAVR program at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, please call 209-342-3311.
What is Aortic Stenosis?
Aortic stenosis (AS) is one of the most common and severe valve diseases. With AS, the opening of the aortic heart valve narrows. As a result, the heart needs to work harder and may not pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. Aortic stenosis can be caused by a birth defect, rheumatic fever, radiation therapy or can be related to age.
Approximately 2.5 million people in the United States over the age of 75 suffer from this disease. In elderly patients, aortic stenosis is sometimes caused by the buildup of calcium (mineral deposits) on the aortic valve’s leaflets. Over time, the leaflets become stiff, which reduces their ability to fully open and close. When the leaflets don’t fully open, a person’s heart must work harder to push blood through the aortic valve to the rest of the body. As a result, less oxygen-rich blood flows from the lungs to the brain and the rest of the body, which may cause symptoms.
Factors Associated with Aortic Valve Disease
- Aging
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- What are the Symptoms of Aortic Stenosis?
Patients commonly misunderstand the symptoms of AS as “normal” signs of aging. Common symptoms include:
- Fainting
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness
- A decline in activity level or reduced ability to do routine physical activities
Patients may live with aortic stenosis for many years during a latent, asymptomatic period, even before disease symptoms develop. However, after patients begin experiencing symptoms, they must receive treatment.
Without Treatment, Severe Symptomatic AS can be Life-Threatening.
After the onset of symptoms, patients with severe AS have a survival rate as low as 50% at two years and 20% at five years without aortic valve replacement. Traditional treatment for this disease is open-heart surgery, which may require extensive hospital stays and recovery times.
Some people may be diagnosed with severe, symptomatic AS and are at intermediate risk for open-heart surgery. Historically, such patients often refuse or are denied surgery. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement surgery may be a safer option.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery is a less invasive, catheter-based technique for replacing the diseased aortic valve. An interventional cardiologist and a TAVR surgeon will work together in the TAVR procedure. They will guide a new valve into the heart through an incision in the leg while the heart is still beating, using guidance from X-ray and echocardiography.
The TAVR surgery can be performed through multiple access approaches. However, the most common approach is the transfemoral approach, in which the valve is delivered via a catheter through the femoral artery, as explained above. A minimally invasive approach uses a small incision in the chest to enter the tip of the left ventricle; this is also called the transapical approach.
What To Expect During The TAVR Procedure
TAVR heart surgery is usually performed by cardiologists or heart specialists in a hospital. Before surgery, they will give you relaxants or medications to put you to sleep. They will also give you medication to prevent severe blood clots.
What To Expect After The TAVR Procedure
The hospital stay after TAVR surgery may be a few days, and it may just take a few weeks for the patient to return to their daily activities (e.g., exercising, driving, etc.). After the procedure, patients will be given medications to prevent infection or abnormal clots. Expect follow-up visits to see how the valve works and how the patient is healing.
Patient Impact: TAVR Surgery Today
- Shorter hospital stay
- Minimally invasive procedure
- The survival rate of 30 days for patients at intermediate-risk of open-heart surgery who received this valve is 99%
For decades, Doctors Medical Center and Valley Heart Institute, an affiliate comprehensive care center, have been a trusted destination for heart care in the Central Valley. Accreditations from leading organizations such as the American Heart Association, Society of Chest Pain Centers, and the American Stroke Association reflect that longstanding commitment to clinical excellence. We also serve as a referral center for complex and difficult-to-diagnose heart conditions.