In 2019, St. Tammany Health System introduced the Northshore to TAVR, or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, a minimally invasive procedure in which a malfunctioning heart valve is replaced without requiring open-heart surgery, resulting in dramatically shorter recovery times and fewer complications.
Since then, St. Tammany and its partner Ochsner Health have worked together to perform hundreds of TAVR procedures, getting patients back on their feet and living an active life quickly and safely -- and earning TAVR certification from the American College of Cardiology in 2021.
Because it is available to patients in all risk categories, TAVR can be an effective option to improve quality of life in patients who otherwise have limited choices for repair of their aortic valve.
As with any surgical procedure, there can be complications. If you think TAVR might be an option for you, ask your doctor or call STHS Structural Heart Clinical Coordinator Karolina Ruthner at (985) 871-5826.