Medtronic LifeLine
We are here for you. If you have any questions about your TAVR device, reach out to our CardioVascular LifeLine Technical Support by phone or email.
Inside your heart
Your heart’s job is to supply oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body. It does that by pumping blood through four heart chambers with the help of four heart valves that open and close with every heartbeat.
- The aortic valve controls blood flow to the body (except the lungs).
- The pulmonary valve controls blood flow to the lungs.
- The mitral and tricuspid valves control blood flow between the heart chambers.
Some causes of severe aortic stenosis include:
- Age
- Calcium buildup
- Radiation therapy
- Infection of the heart
Symptoms of severe aortic stenosis include, but may not be limited, to:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular heartbeat
In a healthy aortic valve, three thin leaflets open and close properly.
In a diseased (stenotic) valve, the leaflets become stiff and thickened, limiting the amount of blood pumped out to the body.
Your heart team (a specialized care team that includes interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists, anesthesiologists, and other doctors as needed) will decide which of the following treatment options is best for you:
Medication
Certain medications may ease some of your symptoms.
Balloon valvuloplasty (BAV)
A tiny balloon is inflated in the aortic valve to try and improve blood flow, but this treatment typically provides only temporary relief.
Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR)
Open-heart surgery is done to remove the damaged valve and replace it with an artificial valve. Patients usually need to stay in the hospital for a week or more, before beginning a longer period of recovery.
Learn more about surgical heart valve repair.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
TAVR is less invasive than open-heart surgery. Your doctor will make a small incision on your body. After the incision is made, a thin, flexible tube is inserted into an artery to guide the artificial heart valve up to your heart to replace the diseased valve.
Learn more about the TAVR procedure.
Your heart team will conduct tests that will help you and the team discuss the best treatment option. These tests will tell your doctor:
- The shape and size of your heart
- The structure of your artery system
- If you have other medical problems
Common tests performed may include:
- Cardiac catheterization
- CT scan
- Echocardiogram
- Carotid ultrasound
- Blood tests
- Physical exam
- Frailty testing
- Pulmonary function test
Hear from Gary, a patient with severe aortic stenosis.