The valve is narrowed.
Severity, symptoms, heart response, anatomy, and progression shape whether monitoring, TAVR, or surgery belongs in the discussion—and how urgent that discussion may be.
Virtual aortic valve second opinion
Before TAVR or surgery, understand what fits your heart.
For U.S. patients and families advised to have aortic valve surgery: a cardiac surgeon and cardiologist review your imaging, proposed plan, and relevant options online.
No referral or call is required to purchase. Start online from home.
- 2independent physician reviews
- 1co-signed written report
- 24 hrafter the complete record is confirmed
FIRST, NAME THE VALVE PROBLEM
A narrowed valve and a leaking valve are different decisions.
The diagnosis starts the conversation. Severity, symptoms, anatomy, heart response, and the rest of the heart determine which questions belong.
The valve is leaking.
Cause, ventricular response, aortic anatomy, and repairability create a different fork. Surgical replacement or selected reconstruction may be relevant; catheter treatment applies to a narrower group. The actual anatomy, cause of the leak, symptoms, and surgical risk require review by the treating multidisciplinary valve team.
Severity + timing
Symptoms, valve area, velocity, gradients, ventricular response, and serial change help explain why intervention is—or is not—being discussed now.
Anatomy + access
Valve morphology, annular dimensions, calcium pattern, coronary height, aortic dimensions, and vascular access can change what is technically reasonable.
Lifetime strategy
Age is context—not a verdict. A single cutoff cannot decide the right path for an individual; expected longevity, durability, reintervention, pacemaker risk, paravalvular leak, and future coronary access belong in the same conversation.
The rest of the heart
Coronary disease, an enlarged aorta, another valve, or a rhythm procedure may favor a combined operation or a different sequence.
Clinical boundary: severe aortic stenosis can become life-threatening, especially when symptoms or heart-function changes are present. Continue following your treating team’s instructions while seeking clarification.
OPTIONS, IN CONTEXT
Two established replacement paths. No universal winner.
The review identifies only the paths that fit the documented diagnosis and anatomy. It does not choose treatment, promise candidacy, or replace the treating valve team.
TAVR
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement replaces the valve through a catheter; it does not repair the native valve. It may offer a shorter initial recovery for appropriately selected patients, while anatomy, access, pacemaker risk, paravalvular leak, durability, and future coronary access still matter.
SAVR
Surgical aortic valve replacement permits a mechanical or tissue prosthesis and can also address bypass disease, the aorta, another valve, or selected rhythm procedures during the same operation.
Selected other paths
For selected regurgitation or aortic-root anatomy, repair or valve-sparing reconstruction may be discussed. The report may also identify questions about continued surveillance, missing workup, or whether the timing should be reassessed with the treating team.
The lifetime question: what fits this heart now, and what could today’s valve choice mean for the next procedure?
WHITEGLOVE Insights™
Your anatomy. Your options. Your next questions.
The report connects the proposed treatment to the complete record, makes uncertainty visible, and prepares your next conversation with the clinicians responsible for your care.
The diagnosis, made coherent
Severity, symptoms, serial testing, heart response, treating team’s plan, and the findings driving the discussion—clearly tied to the source record.
Relevant paths, compared
Benefits, burdens, technical considerations, and unanswered questions for TAVR, SAVR, reconstruction, monitoring, or another path only when it fits this case.
Anatomy, lifetime, and risk
Durability, reintervention, coronary access, prosthesis choice, and the current STS ACSD operative-risk estimate when applicable—with verified inputs, calculation date, missing data, and model limits visible. Other models appear only when documented in the source record.
The next conversation, prepared
Questions about timing, procedure-specific experience, complex-aortic capability, geography, practical considerations, and reliable public outcomes when requested and available.
FOUR CLEAR SERVICE LEVELS
The written review stays the same. You choose the access.
Every package includes both independent reviews and one co-signed report. Higher levels add live physician time and support.
Compare every package detail01WRITTEN REVIEW
WHITEGLOVE
Insights™
$495ONE-TIME
The complete two-physician written review, without a live consultation.
- Two-physician written review included
- Written report only
- One co-signed patient-facing report
02ONE REVIEWER LIVE
WHITEGLOVE
Consult
$995ONE-TIME
The same written review, plus one reviewing physician live.
- Two-physician written review included
- One reviewing physician joins live
- Dedicated time for patient and family questions
03MOST POPULAR · BOTH LIVE
WHITEGLOVE
Heart Team
$1,495ONE-TIME
The same written review, plus both reviewers together live.
- Two-physician written review included
- Cardiac surgeon and cardiologist join live
- Dedicated time for patient and family questions
04SUPPORT THROUGH SURGERY DAY
WHITEGLOVE
Concierge
$2,495ONE-TIME
Heart Team access plus support through the day of surgery.
- Two-physician written review included
- Concierge access through surgery day
- Support continues through surgery day
Direct-pay · secure one-time payment · no subscription · WHITEGLOVEMD does not submit insurance claimsHelp me choose
WHAT SHAPES THE REVIEW
A valve decision is only as complete as the record behind it.
A missing study does not automatically mean care was inadequate. It means the limits of the review should be visible and turned into useful questions.
Echocardiography
Valve severity, ventricular response, other valves, and serial change—not only one number from one study.
CT planning
Annulus, calcium pattern, coronary height, aortic dimensions, and vascular access when a catheter procedure is being considered.
Coronary assessment
Whether coronary disease is present and whether bypass or another strategy changes the choice or sequence.
Aorta + other valves
Whether an enlarged aorta, mitral disease, or another structural problem belongs in the same decision.
Risk-model inputs
The clinical and laboratory variables needed for a defensible estimate, with missing data and model limitations shown.
Function + your priorities
Mobility, frailty, pulmonary and kidney status, recovery, anticoagulation, future procedures, travel, caregiving, and tolerance for uncertainty.
INDEPENDENT DUAL REVIEW
The operating-room view and the cardiology view. Same record.
Both physicians review independently, confer, and co-sign your report. Neither replaces the clinicians who know and treat you.
CARDIAC SURGEON
Rahul R. Handa, MD
Cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon
Reviews SAVR, prosthesis strategy, operative access, the aorta, combined procedures, and risk.
CARDIOLOGIST
Sandeep M. Patel, MD
Interventional cardiologist
Reviews severity, progression, TAVR anatomy, coronary context, imaging, and surveillance.One conference.
Two signatures.
The goal is not manufactured disagreement. It is a decision whose reasoning you can see.
Meet the physiciansHOW IT WORKS
From scattered valve records to one clear next conversation.
No referral or travel is required. You can purchase first, then upload records securely.
- 01
Choose your package
Purchase directly or request a complimentary call if you want help comparing service levels.
- 02
Build the complete record
Upload what you have. With your authorization, our records team can help identify and request what is missing.
- 03
Two independent reviews
A cardiac surgeon and cardiologist examine the same complete record from different clinical perspectives, then confer.
- 04
Receive one co-signed report
The report is delivered within 24 hours only after all required records and imaging are received and confirmed complete. Time spent gathering missing records is outside the 24-hour window.
EVIDENCE, WITH LIMITS VISIBLE
Guidelines and risk models inform the review. Physicians interpret them.
Risk estimates describe modeled outcomes for patients with similar inputs. They do not predict an individual result and do not replace clinical judgment.
2025 · ESC/EACTSGuidelines for management of valvular heart disease2020 · ACC/AHAGuideline for management of valvular heart diseaseSociety of Thoracic SurgeonsAdult Cardiac Surgery Database operative risk calculatorOfficial EuroSCORE siteEuroSCORE II model and stated limitationsAmerican Association for Thoracic SurgeryAATS patient-specific cardiac surgery risk calculator
Questions about your second opinion
When should I seek an aortic valve second opinion?
A second opinion can be useful when aortic valve intervention is being proposed and you want to understand the timing, whether TAVR or surgical replacement fits the documented anatomy, what another heart or aortic condition adds to the decision, or how today’s choice may affect future procedures. It should not delay urgent or time-sensitive care directed by your treating team.
Is TAVR better than open aortic valve surgery?
Neither option is better for every patient. TAVR may offer a shorter initial recovery for appropriately selected patients. Surgical replacement may be more suitable for certain anatomy, lifetime-management goals, or cases that also need bypass, aortic repair, another valve procedure, or rhythm surgery. The review explains how those considerations apply to the available record without choosing treatment for you.
How do age and life expectancy affect TAVR versus SAVR?
Age is context—not a verdict. A single cutoff cannot decide the right path for an individual. Expected longevity, anatomy, frailty, valve durability, potential reintervention, future coronary access, other cardiac disease, and personal priorities all belong in the broader lifetime-management discussion with the treating team.
Does a bicuspid aortic valve change the decision?
It can. Bicuspid morphology, the pattern of calcification, annular and aortic dimensions, coronary anatomy, and associated enlargement of the aorta may affect the technical feasibility and tradeoffs of catheter-based and surgical approaches. The decision requires the actual imaging and clinical context.
Will the review compare mechanical and tissue valves?
When surgical valve replacement is relevant, the report can organize the tradeoffs between mechanical and tissue prostheses. A mechanical valve requires lifelong vitamin K antagonist anticoagulation, usually warfarin. A tissue valve usually does not require lifelong anticoagulation solely because of the valve, but it can deteriorate over time; another condition may still require anticoagulation. The final choice belongs with you and your treating physicians.
What records are needed for an aortic valve second opinion?
The exact record depends on the decision. It commonly includes echocardiogram images and reports, CT imaging when TAVR is being evaluated, catheterization or coronary assessment, clinical notes, laboratory results, medication history, and the proposed treatment plan. With your authorization, the records team can help identify, request, and organize what is needed.
Who reviews my aortic valve case?
A cardiac surgeon and cardiologist independently review the same complete record, confer, and co-sign one patient-facing WHITEGLOVE Insights™ report. Both perspectives are included in every package.
How quickly is the written report delivered?
The report is delivered within 24 hours only after all required records and imaging are received and confirmed complete. Time spent gathering missing records is outside the 24-hour window.
How much does an aortic valve second opinion cost?
The four one-time package prices are $495 for Insights™, $995 for Consult, $1,495 for Heart Team, and $2,495 for Concierge. Every package includes two independent physician reviews and one co-signed written report. Higher levels add live physician access and support. WHITEGLOVEMD is a direct-pay service and does not submit insurance claims.
Does WHITEGLOVEMD replace my valve team?
No. WHITEGLOVEMD provides independent educational decision support and medical-record review. It does not diagnose, prescribe, perform procedures, provide emergency care, or replace the physicians responsible for your treatment.
THE DECISION STAYS YOURS
Before choosing a valve path, bring both sides of the decision to the table.
Choose a package and begin online, or request a complimentary call if you want help deciding.