One of the newest and most exciting procedures offered at Aultman is called a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR. This minimally invasive procedure replaces the valve without actually removing the old valve.

The TAVR procedure is done through very small openings, eliminating the need to open the chest itself. Similar to a stent being placed in an artery, the replacement valve is delivered to the site through a catheter. Once the collapsible replacement valve is in place and expanded, it takes over the job of regulating blood flow.

The TAVR procedure is best for those who are considered intermediate or high-risk patients for standard valve replacement surgery. Therefore, it is very exciting for those patients who may not have been considered good candidates for valve replacements in the past. An additional benefit of the TAVR procedure is the quick recovery, which is usually just a 3-5 day hospital stay. To learn more about the procedure, check out this animation from the American Heart Association.

This new and exciting option will not only give hope, but more importantly, it will improve the quality of life for many heart patients in Stark County and beyond.