What is TAVR and when is it needed?

As you get older, it's normal to experience some minor aches and pains that often accompany common health issues like arthritis. What's not normal, however, is fatigue, light-headedness, chest pain, and shortness of breath. These symptoms could be signs of something more serious, such as aortic stenosis — a form of heart valve disease.

Aortic stenosis is dangerous because it causes the heart's aortic valve opening to narrow and the leaflets that control blood flow to stiffen. This limits blood flow to the aorta — the artery in your heart that carries blood to the rest of your body. Over time, aortic stenosis can lead to heart failure.

While minor cases of aortic stenosis can be treated with medications and lifestyle modifications, severe cases can only be repaired with valve replacement surgery. In the past, that meant surgery would be performed through a large incision in your chest during open heart surgery. Today, however, aortic stenosis can be treated at Reid Health with an innovative, minimally invasive procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Know the signs of aortic stenosis

While age is a major risk factor for aortic stenosis, you're also at risk for the condition if other members of your family have it, you were born with a congenital heart defect, or you've experienced radiation therapy, a heart infection, or rheumatic fever.

It doesn't always cause symptoms, so aortic stenosis can occur without warning. You won't necessarily know that your heart valves and blood vessels aren't working as efficiently as they should. This causes your heart to work too hard to supply the rest of your body with blood and oxygen. As a result, you may experience:

• Decline in activity level due to reduced ability to walk, stand, or sleep
• Breathing difficulties
• Changes in heartbeat, including fluttering or a rapid heartbeat
• Changes in sleep habits, including difficulty falling asleep
• Fatigue, changes in stamina that limits your ability to perform your routine activities
• Chest pain
• Feeling light-headed or dizzy
• Swelling in the feet or ankles

If these symptoms sound familiar, you may want to try the American Heart Association's aortic stenosis symptom tracker. This useful tool allows you to check off the frequency of your symptoms, so you're armed with valuable information when you see a doctor.

What is TAVR?

TAVR is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a damaged heart valve is replaced with a new one. It's a safe and trusted alternative for people who have severe aortic stenosis, and it's a great option for those who may not be candidates for open heart surgery.

During the TAVR procedure, patients are placed under general anesthesia and the cardiovascular surgeon inserts a balloon-tipped catheter into an artery in the groin area. Using a specialized X-ray machine, the surgeon maneuvers the catheter through the artery and to the heart, where the balloon is inflated to hold the artery open while the new heart valve is anchored into place. The entire process takes less than two hours, and your new heart valve starts working immediately.

TAVR is a highly efficient procedure with a success rate of 95%. Because it's less invasive, the surgical risk is lower. You'll experience minimal discomfort, have less scarring, and recover much faster than you would with open heart surgery. In most cases, symptoms improve within 30 days. The best part: TAVR can help those with aortic stenosis add years to their life and life to their years.

After a TAVR procedure

Cardiac rehabilitation plays an important role in heart valve health, too, especially after a heart procedure like TAVR. By combining physical activity, health education, nutrition counseling, and expert support, cardiac rehab helps your heart resume its full strength.

The benefits of an effective cardiac rehabilitation program include:

• A stronger heart muscle
• Education and training about making healthy lifestyle choices
• Improved blood sugar management
• Increased endurance and stamina
• Lowered blood pressure and heart rate
• Smoking cessation support
• Weight control and weight reduction

Reid Health Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation has two locations available to make rehab appointments convenient. Patients can meet with their rehab team at either the Richmond or Connersville locations for support and to regain strength and optimal heart health after treatment.

If you have concerning symptoms, call the Reid Health Heart & Vascular Center at (765) 983-3255 to schedule an appointment, or request one online.