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Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (also known as TAVR or TAVI) is a minimally invasive procedure used by physicians at the Massachusetts General Hospital Corrigan Minhean Heart Center to treat patients with aortic valve stenosis.
Patients who have severe aortic stenosis (a narrowing of the valve that restricts blood flow) and are considered high risk or non-operable for open-heart surgery may be candidates for the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (also known as TAVR or TAVI) procedure.
During this procedure, physicians use minimally invasive techniques to implant a new heart valve without open-heart surgery. Physicians use a transfemoral (from the leg), transaxillary (from the shoulder), or transapical (through the chest) approach, by inserting a transcatheter heart valve that is mounted and crimped onto a balloon delivery catheter. It is then threaded through the patient’s circulatory system and directly into the heart’s pumping chamber.
Upon reaching the site of the patient’s diseased heart valve, the balloon expands, and the transcatheter heart valve is deployed across the patient’s diseased valve. This procedure is performed on a beating heart, meaning that there is no need for a cardiopulmonary bypass and its associated risks.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been proven to have superior safety and efficacy and is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for patients with aortic valve stenosis that are at high or extreme risk for open-heart surgery. Healthier patients may have an opportunity to receive transcatheter aortic valve replacement through one of our ongoing clinical studies.
Our multidisciplinary care team includes cardiac surgeons, interventional cardiologists, noninvasive cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, cardiac imaging specialists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and technicians with robust experience in the evaluation and treatment of patients with valvular heart disease. Patients referred to us undergo a thorough evaluation in order to determine the treatment option that would be best for the patient. Specifically, all patients being considered for TAVR will receive:
Mass General is the #1 Research Hospital in America and the only hospital to be recognized in all 16 specialties assessed by U.S. News & World Report.
Our physicians welcome second opinion appointments to review cases and proposed lines of treatment.
Emily Lau, MD, is a member of the class of 2021 in the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Lau shares what drew her to Mass General, the culture of the program and her experience as a trainee during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is announcing two first-of-their-kind procedures in New England today, to treat one of the most common forms of heart valve disease.
Data from the first COVID-19 patients treated at three large Massachusetts hospitals reveal important trends, including disproportionate representation of vulnerable populations, high rates of disease-related complications, and the need for post-discharge, post-acute care and monitoring.
As the initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, Massachusetts General Hospital leaders are discussing the transition to strategies for recovery and wellness.
A team led by investigators at Mass General and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard recently found that applying “polygenic risk scores” can identify at-risk patients who are not presently identified through standard clinical evaluations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mass General Corrigan Minehan Heart Center is providing general and surgical care for our patients. We have taken unprecedented steps to ensure all office visits, procedures and surgeries are welcoming and safe. We have also expanded our virtual visit offerings.
Call us to learn more, or request an appointment online.
