Aortic Disease Awareness Month- Aortic Valve Treatment
- molly56764
- Sep 16
- 2 min read
Hello everyone, and welcome back to Aortic Disease Awareness Month! 💙
Last time, we talked about aortic valve disease and how our valves can fail over time.
For patients with mild to moderate disease, doctors usually monitor progression with echocardiography and manage risk factors like high blood pressure and smoking.
But once someone reaches severe aortic stenosis or regurgitation, the only proven treatment to improve symptoms and extend life expectancy is aortic valve replacement.
Valve Selection
One of the first decisions you and your doctor will make is whether to choose a mechanical valve or a bioprosthetic (tissue) valve. Each option has unique benefits and trade-offs.
🔹 Mechanical Valves
Very durable — often lasting 20–30 years.
Typically recommended for younger patients.
Require lifelong blood thinners (like warfarin) and regular blood tests.
Some patients notice a faint “clicking” sound as the valve opens and closes.
🔹 Bioprosthetic Valves (cow or pig tissue)
Lower risk of blood clots, so most patients don’t need lifelong blood thinners.
Durability: 10–20 years.
More prone to calcium buildup and wear over time.
Often chosen for older patients, but younger patients may need a second replacement later in life.
TAVR VS SAVR
Valve replacement can be done in two main ways:
🔹 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Minimally invasive — a catheter delivers the valve through an artery (often the groin).
Procedure time: 45–90 minutes (vs. 4–5 hours for SAVR).
Hospital stay: usually 1–2 days, with quicker return to daily life.
Potential drawbacks: need for a pacemaker, risk of valve mismatch, and limited by artery size.
All current FDA-approved TAVR valves are bioprosthetic.
🔹 Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR)
Traditional open-heart surgery.
Allows surgeons to directly remove diseased tissue and repair surrounding areas.
Can address both valve disease and aortic aneurysms during the same operation.
Recovery takes 1–3 months.
How Doctors Decide
Older patients (75+) or those with multiple health conditions are often better candidates for TAVR due to faster recovery.
Younger patients (≤65) who can tolerate surgery may be steered toward SAVR, especially if a mechanical valve is preferred.
Patients with bicuspid valves, aneurysms, or coronary artery disease may benefit more from SAVR.
✅ That’s today’s post! Thank you for tuning in, and remember — the right treatment depends on your age, health, and individual anatomy. Always talk with your doctor to find the best path forward.
Comments