Heart and Vascular Institute Hits New TAVR Milestone

The region’s most experienced transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) program continues to set records while helping people with malfunctioning aortic valves get back into the life they want.

Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute recently surpassed 2,000 TAVR procedures, with the program continuing to shine for its great outcomes. TAVR was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011.

“This milestone really helps illustrate the fact that the heart and vascular institute is the region’s go-to heart health partner,” Ronald Freudenberger, MD, Physician in Chief, Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, says. “TAVR procedures give qualifying people a second chance with a minimally invasive procedure that’s extremely effective.”

TAVR is used to treat aortic stenosis, one of the most common heart valve diseases. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the heart valve opening. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease. Without treatment it can lead to heart failure and can be fatal.

To treat severe aortic stenosis using TAVR, your doctor places an expandable valve into your heart via a catheter (tiny, hollow tube). The catheter is inserted into an artery through your groin to replace the diseased aortic valve.

Many people discover they have aortic valve disease when their family physician hears a murmur during a routine physical exam. Most people with aortic stenosis develop symptoms as the valve becomes tighter. The most common symptoms include:

• Chest discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Progressive fatigue

While aortic valve replacements can be done through open-heart surgery, TAVR is the most common method at the heart and vascular institute. TAVR commonly has a faster recovery time with less pain.

TAVR patients are usually older. It affects about 12% of people over 75. The heart and vascular institute recently performed a TAVR on a 98-year-old World War II veteran. “Not everyone is a candidate for TAVR, but our experience and expertise means we can help more and more people,” Dr. Freudenberger says.