Treating Aortic Stenosis With Surgery

While there are no drug therapies that cure severe aortic stenosis, medications can help relieve certain symptoms, making you feel better in the short term. The only effective treatment for severe aortic stenosis is aortic valve replacement (AVR). This procedure has proven to greatly increase survival, alleviate symptoms and improve a patient’s quality of life.

At St. Joseph’s/Candler, we perform more aortic valve replacements than any other hospital in the region. The majority of the AVRs performed in The Heart Hospital at St. Joseph’s/Candler are through open heart surgery. In this procedure, a board certified cardiothoracic surgeon removes the diseases native valve and implants an artificial valve in its place. Patients at St. Joseph’s Hospital benefit from “mini-AVR” which is performed through a smaller incision.

Minimally Invasive TAVR Surgery

In the past, a percentage of patients have been classified as too sick or too high risk for traditional open-heart surgery. For these patients, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) offers a hopeful alternative. TAVR does not require a patient’s chest to be opened or for the patient’s heart to be arrested during the surgery. As such, some patients who cannot be cleared for traditional surgery may still be able to access to a lifesaving valve replacement.

Get a referral

To learn more about The Valve Clinic or the TAVR procedure , please call 912-819-TAVR or ask your physician for a referral.