Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Loma Linda University Health is the first hospital in the Inland Empire to be Joint Commission accredited to provide Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Supported by Loma Linda University International Heart Institute (LLUIHI), Adult Cardiology Department and Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, we have a strong heritage of medical excellence, outcomes and knowledge, enabling us to deliver exceptional patient care.

Why Choose Us for TAVR

• Multidisciplinary care team: Our multidisciplinary team works together daily to bring you solutions from every available area of heart and vascular care. Your TAVR is handled by specialists, giving you the best care available.
• Award-winning facility: We have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a high-performing hospital in heart failure, aortic valve surgery, and heart bypass surgery.
• Region-leading heart care: We were the first hospital in the Inland Empire accredited by the Joint Commission to provide TAVR.
• Access to the latest treatment options: Because our team is involved in both local and national research trials, you may have the opportunity to participate in trials that offer the very latest treatment options for heart and vascular disease.

Conditions We Treat

Severe aortic stenosis is a narrowing of your aortic valve opening that prevents normal blood flow. It can be caused by a birth defect, rheumatic fever, radiation therapy, or can be related to age and cause dizziness, palpitations, and shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain or tightness in the chest. However, it is important to remember that heart valve disease often occurs with no outward symptoms and may go undetected.

In elderly patients, severe aortic stenosis is sometimes caused by the build-up of calcium (mineral deposits) on the aortic valve’s leaflets. Over time the leaflets become stiff, reducing their ability to fully open and close. When the leaflets don’t fully open, the heart must work harder to push blood through the aortic valve in the body. Eventually, the heart gets weaker, increasing the risk of heart failure (the heart cannot supply enough blood to your body).

Aortic stenosis damages the aortic valve over time

Services We Offer

Trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a nonsurgical approach for severely ill patients who are not candidates for traditional open-heart surgery. The procedure involves replacing a narrowed aortic valve by using a catheter to insert a new valve into the aorta. Procedure time is generally two to three hours and patients often experience a shorter hospital stay and require less anesthesia.

Our Approach

The TAVR procedure requires the collaboration of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons to evaluate and select patients in order to provide the best outcomes. Dr. Anees Razzouk, chief of cardiothoracic surgery, said “Loma Linda University Medical Center was selected as the site to do this procedure partially because our traditional approach to patient care has been a team approach, especially when it comes to cardiac patients. We work daily with cardiologists and other professionals to present the best options of care for our patients.”