Your Aortic Stenosis Treatment Options
Taking the next step to find out about aortic stenosis treatment may feel overwhelming, but it is important to talk to your doctor about the options available to you.
Once your aortic stenosis becomes severe and you start to have symptoms, treatment right away is important. Your doctor may recommend balloon valvuloplasty (BAV) to relieve symptoms of severe aortic stenosis. However, it is not a lasting solution as the valve will eventually narrow again.
The only effective way to treat severe aortic stenosis is by replacing your valve. This can be done through transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or open heart surgery.
Explore Aortic Valve Replacement Options
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
- TAVR is for people who have been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis who are experiencing symptoms.
- TAVR is a less invasive way to replace your aortic valve without opening the chest.
- During the TAVR procedure, a small tube is used to insert a bioprosthetic valve inside your diseased valve.
- TAVR may shorten your recovery time so you can resume normal activities.
- Talk to your doctor about questions you may have about TAVR and/or its associated risks.
Open Heart Surgery
(Also Known as Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement)
- Typically during open heart surgery, the surgeon will make an incision across the full length of your chest to access your valve.
- Sometimes open heart surgeries can be performed through smaller incisions (called minimal incision valve surgery).
- Your old aortic valve will be taken out and a new one will be placed in your body.
- The new valve can either be a mechanical valve or a bioprosthetic valve.
- Talk to your doctor about questions you may have about open heart surgery and/or its associated risks.
All patients requiring aortic valve replacement should be evaluated for TAVR. Learn more about the benefits of the TAVR procedure.