Aortic Valve Therapy Information for Providers at UPMC in Central Pa.

Since 2011, the specialists at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute Structural Heart Program have been performing the minimally invasive TAVR procedure with outstanding results.

Why choose UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute for TAVR?

The cardiovascular specialists at UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute are among the region’s most experienced at performing TAVR, an innovative, minimally invasive procedure to treat aortic stenosis. Although the TAVR procedure was once reserved for patients who were not strong enough to have traditional open-heart surgery for heart-valve replacement, UPMC in Central Pa. now offers TAVR to patients at high-surgical-risk, moderate-surgical-risk, and low-surgical-risk.

• High-surgical-risk patients: UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute's chief of cardiothoracic surgery, Mubashir Mumtaz, MD, FACS, FACC, was one of the authors in the published landmark study comparing TAVR to surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at increased surgical risk.
• Moderate-surgical-risk patients: Through the Medtronic CoreValve® SURTAVI trial, UPMC in Central Pa. was the first hospital in the United States to deploy this type of valve, and the top national enroller.
• Low-surgical-risk patients: A UPMC in Central Pa. patient received the first implant in the United States. UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute physicians at UPMC in Central Pa. were leaders in the low risk clinical trial and helped author a recent journal article in the New England Journal of Medicine about TAVR for low risk patients.

What is TAVR?

TAVR is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure for heart patients who have a serious, debilitating heart condition called aortic stenosis.

See an animation about transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the Medtronic CoreValve System.

What happens during TAVR?

During TAVR, your doctor will insert a catheter into your femoral artery through a small incision in your groin. The catheter will travel to the site of your diseased heart valve, carrying a replacement valve made of bovine or porcine tissue that has been reinforced with a stainless steel stent.

Your malfunctioning valve will be replaced with the new one, leaving you with a smoothly operating valve that delivers better blood flow from your heart to the rest of your body.

The cardiovascular specialists at UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute use the latest TAVR devices to enhance clinical outcomes and reduce your risk of complications. One of these devices, called the Sentinel® Cerebral Protection System (CPS), is used to further reduce the risk of stroke following TAVR. It works by catching debris that may break away from your aortic arch and aortic valve complex during surgery.

These pieces of debris can be several millimeters in size and can travel to your brain and cause brain damage or stroke. As part of UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute's efforts to reduce the stroke rate to as close to zero as possible, our surgeons use the Sentinel CPS for increased patient safety.

Before your TAVR procedure, your cardiovascular specialists will use imaging technology to determine if the Sentinel CPS is right for you based on the condition of your arteries.

What can I expect after TAVR?

When your TAVR procedure is completed, you will be moved to recovery for observation and monitoring. Your doctor will provide more information about your recovery and your hospital stay.

How long does it take to recover after TAVR?

Your doctor will provide more information about your recovery after TAVR and will let you know when you can resume your normal activities. When compared to traditional open-chest surgery, patients who have a TAVR procedure typically experience less pain, have a shorter hospital stay, and recover more quickly. However, you should follow your doctor’s instructions and go to all of your follow-up appointments.

Need more information?

Call the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at 1-855-275-6478.

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Locations 

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
Located at Brady Building
205 South Front Street
4th floor
Harrisburg, PA 17104
Phone: 717-231-8555
Fax: 717-231-8568   

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute (formerly Cardiac Consultants)
1697 Crown Avenue
Suite 100
Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: 717-299-5000
Fax: 717-431-1205

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
12 Saint Paul Drive
Suite 205
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Adult Cardiology: 717-217-6881
Pediatric Cardiology: 717-761-0200
Fax: 717-217-6889

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
Located at Outpatient Services at UPMC Memorial
1703 Innovation Drive
Suite 4120
York, PA 17408
Heart and Vascular: 717-849-5576
Fax: 717-718-9972