Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart & Vascular Care recently held a reception honoring the patients of its Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Program. The program, which began in July, 2012, offers patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis – narrowing of the aortic valve – and who are considered high- risk for traditional open-heart surgery, this minimally invasive procedure of replacing the aortic valve. Typically these patients are over the age of 80, have significant co-morbidities and experience pain in the chest, shortness of breath or syncope. 50-60 percent of these patients would have died within two years of their diagnosis and TAVR substantially prolongs their life and enhances the quality of their life.

The TAVR procedure, which is performed via an artery in the groin or via a small incision in the chest, allows the diseased native heart valve to be replaced without open-heart surgery.

“We are honored to take care of these patients and want to emphasize that chronological age has nothing to do with living an active and fulfilling life,” said Joseph DeRose, M.D., chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and co-director, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Program at Montefiore Medical Center.