RWJBarnabas Heart has the largest TAVR experience in NJ and is one of the largest TAVR centers in the U.S.
RWJBarnabas Health has outcomes that are among the best in the U.S.
Barnabas Heart is one of the few centers in the U.S. able to offer TAVR to low-risk patients with aortic stenosis.
TAVR is not experimental; more than 250,000 TAVR procedures have been performed worldwide; and its is FDA approved for the treatment of aortic stensois
TAVR procedure typically takes less than 1 hr; most patients may spend as few as 2 days in the hospital.
What is aortic stenosis?
Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a disease of the aortic valve in which the opening of the valve is narrowed (stenotic).
This typically results from calcium that is deposited in the valve as people age. The calcium causes narrowing of the valve and prevents it from opening normally.
The normal size of the aortic valve is the size of a half dollar; a severely stenotic valve may be the size of a dime or smaller.
What are the symptoms of aortic stenosis?
Narrowing of the aortic valve increases the effort required by the heart to adequately pump blood to the body. Over time heart function will deteriorate, and the patient will develop symptoms. Symptoms include:
shortness of breath,
chest pain, and
loss of consciounsess (syncope).
If untreated, 50% of patients with severe aortic stenosis die 2 years after symptoms are detected.
Who is a candidate for TAVR?
Traditional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) continues to be associated with excellent outcomes and remains the gold standard for treatment of severe aortic stenosis patients considered low risk for surgery. However, at Barnabas Heart, catheter-based procedures are available for nearly all types of patients, including patients who are considered low-risk for traditional surgical valve replacement.
What information is needed before I can
undergo the procedure?
Evaluation includes assessment of the aortic valve, peripheral blood vessels, the aorta, blood vessels in the heart, heart function, lung function, and overall well-being. Typically, patients receive most of this testing in a single day. This includes an evalution by the Valve Centers clinicans and imaging of the heart (echocardiogram) and blood vessels (CAT scan)
We aim to complete aim of the testing and finalize a plan within a week of first contact.
Is TAVR experimental?
TAVR Valve
TAVR is NOT experimental. Research studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are high risk or not candidates for surgery, TAVR (aka TAVI) is associated with significantly improved survival, improved symptoms, and improved quality of life compared. In fact, patients undergoing TAVR were nearly twice as likely to be alive at 1 year compared with those who did not.
TAVR is FDA approved for the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis in high and extreme risk patients. As of 2013, more than 250,000 TAVR procedures have been performed worldwide. Dr Russo is the most experienced TAVR surgeon in New Jersey, and the team at Barnabas Heart has the largest experience in New Jersey and among the best outcomes in U.S.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), also known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), is a minimally invasive approach to the treatment of aortic stenosis.
In most patients (90%+), TAVR can be performed-with no incisions-with only a puncture in an artery in the leg (known as the fermoral artery). In some patients, it is necessary to make a small incision in the chest. Either approach avoids the need for opening the chest, using a heart-lung machine, and stopping the heart.
Why TAVR at RWJBarnabas Heart?
Barnabas Health is the largest not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system in New Jersey. RWJBarnabas Heart is the the largest and the only comprehensive cardiac program in New Jersey. The Barnabas TAVR team:
maintains the largest TAVR experience in New Jersey performing more than 500 successful transcatheter valve procedures and is one the largest TAVR centers in the U.S.
achieves TAVR outcomes that among the best in the U.S. (30-day mortality: 3%; stroke risk < 1%)
is the only center in NJ and one of only a few sites in the U.S. to have access to the most advanced commerical and research devices. This allows offer the latest TAVR technology to a broader range of patients
What is the recovery from TAVR?
The procedure typically takes less than 1 hour, and patients are often discharged home on the day following the TAVR procedure.
What are the potential benefits of TAVR?
With TAVR, patients often experience a much more rapid recovery than they would from a traditional, surgical valve replacement. With TAVR, patients may even feel immediate benefit, because the valve replacement occurs via minimally invasive techniques--avoiding the need for large incisions.
Research studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are intermediate, high risk, or not candidates for surgery, TAVR (aka TAVI) is associated with significantly improved survival, improved symptoms, and improved quality of life compared. In fact, at 1 year patients undergoing TAVR were nearly twice as likely to be alive compared with those who did not.
After a successful TAVR procedure, patients should expect an improvement in symptoms, improved quality of life, and improved survival.
