Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR or TAVI)

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR or TAVI)

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive surgery for patients with severe narrowing of the aortic valve. Restricted blood flow forces the heart to work harder and can lead to heart failure, fainting, irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest. Without treatment, 50% of patients with severe aortic stenosis will survive only two years from the onset of their symptoms.

For patients needing surgical intervention – who are identified as inoperable or too high risk for traditional open heart surgery due to factors such as age, history of heart disease, frailty or other health issues – TAVR could be a viable option.

During the TAVR procedure, the surgeon replaces a diseased heart valve with a tissue valve. This is done by catheter through a small incision. The surgeon can insert the catheter through the femoral artery in the groin, or for patients with vascular disease or small vessels, a small incision can be made through the ribs. Once in the heart chamber, the new valve is positioned directly inside the diseased aortic valve where the catheter balloon is inflated to secure the valve in place. The TAVR valve begins working immediately, functioning like a normal, healthy valve.

By combining minimally invasive surgery with the latest catheter technologies, TAVR is done while the heart remains pumping, eliminating the need for a heart-lung machine. Minimally invasive valve surgery with simultaneous percutaneous intervention generally takes much less time than open heart surgery and recovery time is shortened.

For additional information TAVR surgery at Wichita Surgical Specialists or to schedule an appointment, please call 316-858-5000, or toll-free 866-858-5001.

Our Physicians

  • Headshot photo of Dr. Sanjay Khicha, cardiothoracic surgeon with Wichita Surgical Specialists Sanjay G. Khicha, MD, FACS
    • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
    • Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement
    • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
    • Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation
    • Mitral Valve Repair Surgery
    • Aortic Surgery
    • Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
    • Thoracic Stent Graft Surgery
    • General Thoracic Surgery, Including Lung Cancer & Benign Lung Disease
  • Headshot photo of Dr. Brett Grizzell, cardiothoracic surgeon with Wichita Surgical Specialists Brett E. Grizzell, MD, FACS
    • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
    • Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair/Replacement
    • Valve Surgery
    • Robotic Lung Resection / Lung Cancer Surgery
    • Coronary Revascularization
    • Esophageal Resection
  • Bethany G. Harpole, MD
    • Aortic Surgery
    • Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
    • Valve Surgery
    • Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation
    • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
    • Robotic, Minimally Invasive & Open Surgery for Benign & Malignant Lung, Mediastinal & Esophageal Conditions
    • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)