Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement offers a minimally invasive approach
for aortic valve replacement.
Mission Heritage Medical Group and Mission Hospital are leaders in Southern
California for providing advanced, state-of-the art heart care –
including TAVR.
Dr. Ihab Alomari is a highly respected interventional cardiologist and
medical director for Mission’s structural heart program. He was
trained in the TAVR procedure in Germany, then started and led the TAVR
program at the University of California-Irvine in 2017. Dr. Alomari joined
Mission Hospital in 2023 and has been leading the TAVR program since.
Dr. Alomari has been instrumental in advancing and expanding the TAVR program
at Mission Hospital, bringing leading-edge treatments to patients with
complex heart conditions. His leadership and expertise have helped to
position Mission Hospital as a regional leader in cardiovascular care.
Why choose Mission for your TAVR procedure?
Meet the TAVR team at Providence Mission Hospital.
Providence Mission boasts excellent outcomes for TAVR patients. Our team
uses a “minimalist” strategy, with more than 98% of procedures
performed with sedation instead of using general anesthesia.
In addition, Mission Heritage in Mission Viejo offers a unique, free concierge
service to help make the entire process, before and after the procedure,
as streamlined and worry-free as possible for our patients.
Our patient concierge gives everyone the VIP treatment! From coordinating
the pre-procedure workups and any other necessary tests or appointments,
to arranging transportation for patients who live out of the area, our
goal is to make sure our patients’ care is individualized to their
personal needs. We believe communication is key, and we take pride in
being readily available for our patients when they have questions or requests.
Thanks to our unwavering commitment to excellence in TAVR procedures at
Mission Hospital, patients experience significantly shorter wait times
compared to other hospitals in the community. Our efficient process is
particularly advantageous for patients who require care for severe heart
conditions. The majority of our TAVR candidates can expect to have their
procedure scheduled and completed within a remarkably short timeframe
of 2-4 weeks from their initial visit and completion of necessary diagnostic studies.
This streamlined approach ensures that patients receive timely and effective
treatment, minimizing unnecessary delays and improving overall outcomes.
More about TAVR
Why would I need TAVR?
As the heart ages, the aortic valve can develop wear and tear from constant
use. Calcium begins to deposit on the valve, which leads to “stenosis,”
or narrowing of the valve. When the narrowing is severe, the heart must
work extra-hard to pump blood to the brain and the rest of the body. People
with aortic stenosis may experience shortness of breath, chest pain and/or
a lack of energy when performing everyday tasks.
How do I prepare for TAVR?
There are several tests that must be completed prior to a TAVR procedure.
Many of these tests are required by Medicare and insurance companies.
Your tests may include:
- Coronary angiogram: Dye is injected into the arteries of the heart to check
for major blockages and fix them as needed.
- CT angiogram: This specialized CT scan recreates the aortic valve to help
determine what size the new TAVR valve should be and gives us more information
about the peripheral arteries anatomy that we use during TAVR.
- Cardiac surgery consultation: We perform all TAVR procedures in conjunction
with a cardiac surgeon.
How is TAVR performed?
View our video of how TAVR is performed.
The TAVR procedure takes place in a cardiac cath lab at the hospital.
First, an anesthesiologist administers deep sedation. We use sedation instead
of general anesthesia as it provides a quick recovery time and less pain
for most patients. Next, the heart valve, mounted on a balloon, is inserted
into the femoral artery and advanced into the stenotic aortic valve. Once
in position, the valve is then expanded up to five times larger.
The procedure takes about 30-45 minutes, and the new heart valve beings
to function immediately.
How long is recovery from TAVR?
Recovery after the TAVR procedure is extremely quick, particularly when
compared to alternatives such as open-heart surgery.
Since we use moderate sedation, patients are awake 15-20 minutes after
the procedure. Patients are admitted to a hospital room, where they lie
flat for two to four hours. Later, they can get out of bed, walk around
the unit and sit upright in a chair for dinner that evening. Nearly all
patients are discharged home after a one-night observation stay in the hospital.
After discharge, patients can resume everyday activity, including walking,
but need to wait at least one week before lifting anything heavy. This
gives the puncture in the leg artery time to heal.
Our locations
Mission Heritage Mission Viejo - Cardiology
26800 Crown Valley Parkway, Suite 250
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Mission Heart and Vascular Institute
Providence Mission Hospital
27700 Medical Center Road
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Contact us
Clinic phone: (949) 364-3570
Chelsea Zimmerman, TAVR nurse practitioner: 949-201-0463