The TAVR medical abbreviation stands for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a procedure that places a new aortic valve inside the old, narrowed one by passing it through a blood vessel, most often an artery in the groin. Because the chest is not opened, many people go home within a day or two.
TAVR is used mainly for aortic stenosis, a stiff, narrowed aortic valve. In Europe and many other places the same procedure is called TAVI, transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The sections below explain TAVR in a chart, the shorthand around it, how it compares with open valve surgery, and what follow up usually involves.
At a glance
Stands for
Transcatheter aortic valve replacementAlso written
TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation), same procedureSaid as
"TAH-ver", or letter by letterTreats
Aortic stenosis (AS), sometimes a failing earlier valveUsual route
Transfemoral, through the femoral artery in the groinCompare with
SAVR, surgical aortic valve replacement through the chestSpecialty
Heart valve team: interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery
What TAVR does to a narrowed valve
The aortic valve is the door between the heart's main pumping chamber and the aorta, the large artery that carries blood to the body. With age, calcium can build up on the valve leaflets so they no longer open fully. The heart then has to push harder, which can cause breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness or fainting.
In a TAVR, the new valve is folded tightly onto a catheter, guided up to the heart, and opened inside the diseased valve. It pushes the old leaflets aside and takes over right away. Some new valves expand with a balloon and others expand on their own once released. The valve team picks the type and size from CT scans done beforehand.
AS s/p TAVR and other chart phrases
A very common search is for the phrase AS s/p TAVR in a medical abbreviation list. It reads as aortic stenosis, status post transcatheter aortic valve replacement: the person had a narrowed aortic valve and has since had it replaced by catheter.
| Text | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Severe AS | Severe aortic stenosis, the reason for the procedure |
| s/p TAVR | Has had transcatheter aortic valve replacement |
| 26 mm valve | The size of the new valve |
| transfemoral | Delivered via the main groin artery |
| no PVL on TTE | No leak around the valve edge seen on an ultrasound of the heart |
PVL here means paravalvular leak, a small gap around the new valve that the team checks for on follow up scans.
TAVR medical abbreviation compared with SAVR
For many years the standard fix for aortic stenosis was surgical aortic valve replacement, or SAVR, done through the breastbone with a heart lung machine. TAVR was first offered to people too frail for surgery and is now used across a much wider range of patients. The choice depends on age, other health conditions, valve anatomy and the expected lifespan of each valve type.
| Feature | TAVR | SAVR |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Catheter, usually through the groin | Open chest surgery |
| Old valve | Left in place, pushed aside | Cut out and removed |
| Typical stay | Often one to two days | Usually several days |
| Anesthesia | Often sedation | General anesthesia |
A heart team, usually including a cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist, reviews each case together.
Testing before and after the procedure
Before TAVR, people usually have an echocardiogram such as a TTE, a CT angiogram of the heart and leg arteries to size the valve and plan the route, a heart catheterization in many cases, and blood tests. Dental checks are common, since mouth infections can seed the new valve.
Follow up clinic note: "30 day post TAVR TTE: mean gradient 9, trace PVL. Pt walking daily, NYHA class I." The new valve is opening well with only a trace of leak, and the person reports no limits on ordinary activity.
Some people need a permanent pacemaker after TAVR, because the valve frame can press on the heart's wiring. Notes may write this as PPM.
Medicines and everyday life after TAVR
After the procedure, most people take an antiplatelet medicine such as aspirin, and some take an anticoagulant if they have another reason for one, such as atrial fibrillation. The plan differs by person and by the team's approach.
Patients are often asked to report fever, new breathlessness, fainting or bleeding at the groin site, and to tell dentists and other doctors that they have a replacement valve. Many people notice easier breathing and more energy within weeks. Regular echo checks follow, often yearly.
Frequently asked questions
What does TAVR stand for?
It stands for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. A new aortic valve is delivered on a catheter, usually through the groin, and opened inside the old narrowed valve.
Is TAVR the same as TAVI?
Yes. TAVI, transcatheter aortic valve implantation, is the name used in Europe and many other countries for the same procedure. US charts mostly write TAVR.
What does AS s/p TAVR mean?
It means aortic stenosis, status post transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The person had a narrowed aortic valve and has already had a new valve placed by catheter.
Is TAVR open heart surgery?
No. The chest is not opened and the heart keeps beating during the procedure. It is done through a blood vessel, most often in the groin.
How long does a TAVR valve last?
Studies continue to follow how long these valves last, and results so far are encouraging. The valve team discusses expected durability when weighing TAVR against surgery, especially for younger patients.