Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Stay close to home while getting advanced care for a damaged heart valve at Cone Health.
Moses Cone Hospital is the only hospital in the Triad rated High Performing for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) by U.S. News & World Report, both in 2023-2024, 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.
With transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), you receive a new heart valve—and improve the flow of blood through your heart—during a minimally invasive surgery.
Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Replacement
With TAVR, your doctors give you a new heart valve without opening your chest or stopping your heart. Instead, your doctors insert a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into an artery in your leg or chest, and guide it to your heart. Then, they use the catheter to place a new, expandable valve inside your damaged one. The new valve pushes the damaged parts of your old valve out of the way and takes over blood flow regulation.
Am I a Candidate for TAVR?
Your heart and vascular care team may recommend TAVR if you face severe aortic stenosis—narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart—and a conventional valve replacement surgery is not a good option for you.
Benefits of TAVR
Because TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure, you’ll experience:
- Less pain
- Less trauma to your chest and heart muscle
- Lower risk of infection
- Shorter hospital stay
- Quicker recovery
Your new valve may quickly relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain, as it also extends your life and helps improve your quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the work up take?
In general, it can take up to two to four weeks to complete all of the testing and appointments necessary for your evaluation.
Who does the procedure?
A cardiothoracic surgeon and interventional cardiologist work together to complete this procedure. Sometimes the doctors you meet during the consultation are not the doctors who perform your surgery. As a multidisciplinary valve team, we work together to complete these surgeries. We do try to align your surgery with the doctors you have met, when possible.
What other tests will I need before my TAVR?
There are several tests that need to be completed prior to TAVR. We have included a checklist with all the tests and appointments required before we can schedule your TAVR surgery. Please follow along and check off the portions you have completed as you go.
Who will arrange these tests?
Our nurse navigators help set up all these appointments and tests. They will call you with your appointment times and send a letter in the mail, or through MyChart, with detailed instructions.
Will my insurance cover the procedure?
All TAVR cases and ancillary testing are sent to our prior authorization department when scheduled. We will work with you if there are any issues with your insurance. Certain insurances take longer to process authorization than others.
How long does the TAVR procedure take?
How long will I be in the hospital?
Most patients stay 1 to 2 days. Many of our patients are discharged the following day.
Will you use general anesthesia and a breathing tube?
Most of our TAVR patients do not require general anesthesia or a breathing tube. We generally do the procedure under “conscious sedation.” This means you will not feel pain or remember the procedure, but you will not require a breathing tube. Some patients do require general anesthesia and a breathing tube based on their medical history. The anesthesiologist usually makes this decision on the day of surgery.
Will I need to be on any special medications after the procedure?
Patients are usually discharged home on Aspirin 81 mg daily. Other common medications include clopidogrel, warfarin, rivaroxaban and apixaban. Medications are decided on a case-by-case basis.
Will I have pain after the procedure?
Generally, patients have some mild discomfort at the incision site. However, this pain can be managed with pain medication during your hospital stay and often Tylenol at home. Heating pads and ice packs may be applied as needed.
What restrictions will I have when I go home?
You will not be able to drive or exercise until cleared by a provider at your follow up appointment, usually 1 week after your hospital discharge. Otherwise, you will be able to do all your normal activities as tolerated.
What follow up is required?
Your follow up is scheduled in our valve clinic with our advanced practice providers. You will be seen 1-2 weeks after discharge and then again at 1 month and 1 year with an echocardiogram. Then you will be released from the valve clinic and will continue regular follow up with your general cardiologist and Primary Medical Provider.
Checklist: Is TAVR Right for You?
These tests and experts can help your health care providers determine if TAVR is right for you.
- Echocardiogram (Echo): Uses sounds waves to create images of your heart. There are two types of echocardiograms. A transthoracic echo (TTE) uses a small device that is pressed against your chest and a transesophageal echo (TEE) uses a small device placed directly down your throat. Purpose: Detects disease of the heart muscle and valves.
- Cardiac Catheterization: A long thin tube is inserted into your arm or leg and threaded through your blood vessels to your heart. The tube releases dye to help take pictures of the arteries around your heart with an X-ray machine. Purpose: To look at heart arteries and measure pressure in lungs and heart.
- CT Scans: A big scanner will take pictures of your chest, abdomen, pelvis and heart. It uses a combination of X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of your body. Purpose: To assess the size of the valve and groin arteries. Depending on your kidney function, you may need IV fluids with this test and have to hold certain medications.
- See a Heart Surgeon: Meet with one of our cardiothoracic surgeons to make sure you are a good candidate for TAVR versus open surgery.
- See Cardiologist on TAVR Team: Meet on of our interventional cardiologists to make sure you are a good candidate for TAVR. Sometimes this meeting occurs on the day of surgery.
Cone Health TAVR Program: Fast Facts
- Cone Health has been performing TAVR procedures since 2014.
- We have treated more than 1100 patients with the TAVR procedure.
- The average TAVR patient is 79 years old.
- The oldest patient to undergo the TAVR procedure was 98 years old at the time of their valve surgery.
