Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was initially implemented and approved for high-risk patients who could not tolerate surgical aortic valve replacement due to advanced age or other comorbidities. Patients in their 70s, 80s, and even 90s could receive a new tissue valve that would, in most cases, last them a lifetime. It relieved the debilitating symptoms of severe aortic valve disease and saved many lives.<\/p>\n
After several clinical trials, TAVR gained FDA approval for moderate- and low-risk patients and became a highly sought-after solution, as it resulted in shorter hospital stays and an overall faster recovery compared to surgically replacing the valve.<\/p>\n
Although the outcomes were good enough for FDA approval, the long-term data for younger patients who undergo TAVR is still not clear. Unlike mechanical valves, which are designed to last a lifetime, tissue valves like TAVR deteriorate over time. Patients may require a second aortic valve replacement. Unfortunately, not all patients are candidates for a valve-in-valve procedure and explanting the original TAVR valve can be very challenging. That said, surgeons continue to explore safe and effective methods for TAVR explantation, one of which is with minimally invasive robotic surgery.<\/p>\n
We received a great patient question on this topic asking, \u201cCan TAVR explant be performed robotically?\u201d We met with Dr. Vinay Badhwar<\/a>, the Executive Chair of the WVU Heart & Vascular Institute in Morgantown, West Virginia, to address this question and gain a deeper understanding of robotic aortic valve replacement. Dr. Badhwar is not only an expert in this field, but he and his team performed the first robotic aortic valve replacement and continue to lead the way with this surgical platform.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n