People who have aortic stenosis (a narrowed aortic valve) can find themselves struggling with a host of debilitating symptoms, including fatigue, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, swelling in the legs, and shortness of breath. The condition is particularly common among older people, especially those with congestive heart failure. 

For years, the only treatment for severe cases was open heart surgery to replace the bad valve, which can start to restrict blood flow. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a fairly new procedure that takes a minimally invasive approach to achieve the same results, and it involves less pain and a shorter recovery time.

“Open heart surgery is still a good treatment for aortic stenosis, but TAVR can be a great option for people who want to avoid the time spent in recovery,” says Yale Medicine cardiac surgeon Matthew Williams, MD.

Aortic stenosis is a mechanical problem that can develop in the heart as a result of aging, a birth defect, chest radiation, or rheumatic fever. 

The heart pumps blood to the rest of the body through four valves. Each of these valves has tissue flaps called leaflets that open and close like gates to control blood flow. Aortic stenosis is a buildup of calcium on a leaflet that makes it stiff—similar to rust on the hinges of a door—and reduces its ability to open and close, preventing or reducing blood flow to the heart. This can lead to fainting, chest pain, or even death.

Some people live with aortic stenosis for years without symptoms, but the disease is progressive and can become life-threatening. So, it’s critical for anyone who starts to experience symptoms to seek treatment.

Usually both a cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist work together to perform the procedure. First the patient is given some form of anesthesia, which may be general anesthesia. Then the doctors will insert a catheter (a hollow tube) in a blood vessel via the leg, groin, stomach, chest, neck, or collar bone. The doctors maneuver the catheter to the heart and thread it through the defective valve, using X-ray and echocardiography for guidance.

Once the catheter reaches the heart, the doctors use it to put in a replacement valve (made of either biological tissue or man-made materials). The valve, which is collapsible, is inserted into the original valve, then expanded so that it can take over the job of controlling blood flow. In people with stenosis, the defective valve can be so tight that it’s difficult to thread the catheter through it, so the doctor may inflate a balloon to open it up. 

Your doctors may decide to monitor you in the intensive care unit, and you may spend two to five days in the hospital. You will need to take blood-thinning medications for a period of time after the procedure. Around a month after the procedure, you should see your doctor to ensure that the new valve is working well. After that, regular follow-up visits are necessary for long-term monitoring.

The main treatment for aortic stenosis is replacement of the faulty aortic valve. The traditional approach for aortic valve replacement is open-heart surgery. It is a major operation that typically involves making a 10-inch incision along the breastbone and putting the patient on a heart-lung machine to stop the heart while the valve is replaced surgically. 

Open-heart surgery comes with risks for complications such as stroke, heart attack, or irregular heartbeat, and may not be suitable for all patients. In addition to several days of recovery in the hospital, open-heart surgery can involve weeks of recovery outside of the hospital.

Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery may also be an option. There are various techniques for these procedures, but in general they involve smaller incisions and a speedier recovery.

For people whose aortic stenosis does not cause any symptoms or only mild symptoms, treatment may not be necessary. In these cases, regular visits to the doctor are important to monitor the condition. For those with symptoms, medications can help alleviate them.

TAVR can be a good option for people with severe aortic stenosis. 

But, as with any procedure, it carries some risks of complications. These include bleeding, problems with the replacement valve leaking or moving, damage to the artery from the catheter, infection, and other challenges. A small percentage of patients have developed a stroke during or after the operation. Your doctor will talk to you about whether the benefits outweigh the risks in your situation.

Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH), and Yale Medicine’s surgeons and interventionalists are national leaders in transcatheter aortic valve replacement. YNHH was the first hospital in Connecticut to offer the procedure and now performs an average of 200 TAVRs each year. Our outcomes are well above the national average, and at follow-up visits, our patients usually report that they are enjoying a better quality of life after the procedure.

Each new patient is evaluated by a multidisciplinary team of specialists for TAVR. The team includes interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, echocardiographers, and valve clinic coordinators who work together to come up with a personalized plan.

While the TAVR procedure was initially intended for patients for whom open heart surgery would be especially risky, clinical trials at Yale are making it possible for any patient with severe aortic stenosis to consider it as a potential treatment.

“Yale has robust experience with TAVR, and outstanding cardiologists and heart surgeons who are very experienced in performing transcatheter valve operations,” says Dr. Williams. “If patients are currently ineligible for transcatheter procedures, there are often clinical trials that can allow people a chance at a less invasive option.”