What is TAVR?
TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve without open-heart surgery. A new valve is delivered through a catheter — typically inserted through the femoral artery in the groin — and deployed inside the existing valve. TAVR was initially approved for high-risk patients but is now FDA-approved for all risk levels based on the PARTNER 3 and Evolut Low Risk trials.
The complete answer.
TAVR offers shorter hospital stays (2-3 days vs 5-7 days for surgical AVR), faster recovery (2-4 weeks vs 8-12 weeks), and no sternotomy. However, TAVR valves have limited long-term durability data beyond 10 years, higher rates of paravalvular leak and pacemaker implantation, and may not be suitable for patients with bicuspid valves or certain anatomies. The 2020 ACC/AHA guidelines recommend shared decision-making with a Heart Team for patients aged 65-80.
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