Aortic Valve Replacement

Also known as: aortic valve surgery, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)

What is aortic valve replacement?

Aortic valve replacement is a surgery to remove and replace the heart’s aortic valve. This may be needed if the valve leaks (aortic regurgitation) or has a narrow opening (aortic stenosis).

What happens during the procedure?

This is surgery is done under general anesthesia with cardiopulmonary bypass. Rarely the valve can be placed using catheters without undergoing open heart surgery, however most children are too small for this procedure.

Is any special preparation needed?

You may need to stop taking certain medicines before the surgery. You’ll want to take precautions to prevent infections after the surgery. You may need to stop eating and drinking the day before the surgery, as well.

What are the risk factors?

Risks of aortic valve replacement include bleeding, stroke, heart attack, infections, breathing problems, drug reactions, arrhythmia and possibly death

Aortic valve replacement at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital: Aortic valve replacement is performed by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s team of top-notch medical professionals using the most cutting-edge techniques.


Reviewed by: Madalsa Dipak Patel, MD

This page was last updated on: May 12, 2023 03:26 PM

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