Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

At the Cottage Heart & Vascular Center, you’ll find cardiovascular services and treatments you would expect to find at a large academic medical center including the latest minimally-invasive procedure options.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital was the first facility on the Central Coast to offer patients TAVR, an alternative to open-heart surgery.

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Appointments

Cottage Structural Heart Clinic - 805-324-9012
Cottage Cardiology Clinic - 805-324-9707
In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Severe Aortic Stenosis (AS)

Illustration of Severe Aortic Stenosis (AS)

Aortic Stenosis occurs when your aortic valve does not open as it should. This makes your heart work harder to pump blood through your body. This affects your health and limits your normal daily activities.

Severe AS may be caused by the following:

Age
Calcium buildup that narrows the aortic valve
Radiation therapy
Infection of the heart

Left untreated, severe AS can lead to heart failure or even sudden death.

What Is TAVR?

TAVR is the first non-surgical replacement of the aortic valve in your heart. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for appropriate patients with aortic valve stenosis who are not candidates for open surgery to replace their natural aortic valve.

In the past, the only way to replace this valve was through open-heart surgery. What differentiates TAVR from open-heart surgery is that a team of specialists places a collapsible aortic heart valve into the body via a catheter that is inserted through the leg and threaded up to the heart. This breakthrough technology means a surgical incision through the chest is not needed.

Is TAVR right for you? This question is best addressed with close consultation between you and our expert clinicians.