Bioprosthetic heart valves are often preferred over mechanical valves because they have a lower risk of thrombosis, but they don’t last as long. The standard treatment for a failed valve that has stenosed or is regurgitant has been surgery, but repeat cardiac surgery carries significant risk, especially for older patients, making valve-in-valve surgery a good option.

The TAVR option is often chosen because it offers a minimally invasive procedure to patients who previously underwent open-heart surgery for a tissue valve. Using the less invasive “valve-in-valve” procedure, a new transcatheter valve is tightly placed into the orifice of the failed surgical valve, pushing the old valve leaflets aside. With the TAVR procedure, the total time of recovery in an ambulating, moderate- to high-risk patient is about a week.

Be sure to talk to your doctor to find out if a minimally invasive TAVR procedure is right for you as you near the lifespan of your tissue valve.

To schedule an evaluation with a Frankel Cardiovascular Center physician, call 888-287-1082. Or visit the Make a Cardiovascular Appointment page to learn what to expect when you call us.