Watch: in my words
Am I a candidate for TAVR?
Why is a heart surgeon part of my TAVR team?
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Who it’s for
When a tissue valve is the right choice, the 2020 ACC/AHA guideline prefers TAVR (if feasible) for patients older than 80 or expected to live less than 10 years, and for patients of any age at high or prohibitive surgical risk. Between 65 and 80, TAVR or surgery is recommended after shared decision-making. Under 65, surgery is preferred.
TAVR compared with surgery
1–2 days
typical hospital stay, vs about a week for surgery
About 1 in 100
had a stroke within a year — similar for both
About 8 in 100
needed a pacemaker within 30 days, vs about 6 in 100 after surgery
Figures from studies of otherwise healthy patients with severe aortic stenosis, summarized in the Massachusetts General Hospital decision aid. People with other health problems may face higher risks.
Why a surgeon is on your TAVR team
The decision between TAVR and surgery is made best by a heart team that does both. As a cardiac surgeon, I evaluate whether your anatomy, age and other heart problems point toward a catheter valve or an operation — and I plan for your lifetime, not just this procedure.
Sources for this section: 2020 ACC/AHA Valve Guideline, key points: aortic (ACC) · Massachusetts General Hospital — TAVR or SAVR decision aid
Common questions
How is TAVR different from open surgery?
The valve goes in through a catheter instead of through the chest. The average hospital stay is one to two days instead of a week, and recovery is one to two weeks instead of six to eight.
Source: Massachusetts General Hospital — TAVR or SAVR decision aid
Will I need a pacemaker afterward?
About 8 in 100 patients needed a pacemaker within 30 days of TAVR, compared with about 6 in 100 after surgery.
Source: Massachusetts General Hospital — TAVR or SAVR decision aid
What about stroke risk?
About 1 in 100 patients had a stroke within one year — similar for TAVR and surgery.
Source: Massachusetts General Hospital — TAVR or SAVR decision aid
How long does a TAVR valve last?
TAVR is newer than surgery, so very long-term durability data are still being collected. A worn-out valve can sometimes be treated with another valve inside it, but that depends on anatomy — which is why planning the first valve with the future in mind matters. Surgery offers more options if the valve needs replacing again.
Source: Massachusetts General Hospital — TAVR or SAVR decision aid · TCTMD — valve-in-valve durability and planning ahead (2020)
What should I talk over with my family?
What you hope for from treatment, what concerns you have about either option, and what questions you want to bring to your heart team.
Source: Massachusetts General Hospital — TAVR or SAVR decision aid
