Treatment Options

It is important to remember that medication cannot stop the progression or cure the disease; it can only treat the symptoms. Valve replacement is the only effective treatment option, and an evaluation will help determine what option is best for you.

• Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR)
  • Your old valve is removed and replaced with a new one.
  • The surgeon will make an incision, opening the breast bone and replace the valve with either a tissue or mechanical valve. A heart-lung machine takes over the job of circulating blood throughout the body during the procedure. Many surgeons are now able to offer their patients minimal incision valve surgery as an alternative to open-chest heart valve surgery. Smaller incisions may be made on the side of the chest or in the center.
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
  • This may be an option if you have been considered intermediate risk or higher for open-heart surgery. It may even be considered if you have low risk with other certain health care conditions that may make you higher risk for open-heart surgery. TAVR is a less invasive approach to replace your aortic valve without requiring open-heart surgery. A small tube is used to insert a tissue valve inside your diseased valve.
  • This procedure may shorten your recovery time so you can resume normal activities more quickly.
• Balloon Valvuloplasty (BAV)
  • Your doctor may recommend a BAV to relieve symptoms of your severe aortic stenosis. A balloon at the tip of a small tube is advanced from an artery in your groin across your aortic valve and is inflated to open the narrowed valve. Please note this is not a lasting solution, as the valve will eventually narrow again