Non-surgical pulmonary valve replacement

Expert Heart & Vascular Care

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Surgically implanted valves have a limited lifespan. Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) can effectively restore normal blood flow to the lungs and decrease the number of open-heart surgeries you need during your lifetime. Members of our structural heart and valvular disease and interventional cardiology teams have expertise in using both types of FDA-approved valves for TPVR, the Melody valve and the SAPIEN XT valve.

What to expect during TPVR

You’ll be put to sleep using general anesthesia. Your doctor will make a small incision in your groin and insert a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel. The doctor will guide the catheter through the artery to the damaged pulmonary valve. When it’s in position, the balloon will be inflated and the new valve will be secured in place. The doctor will then deflate the balloon and remove it and the catheter.

The procedure takes about an hour. You should be able to go home the next day and return to normal activities in a few days.

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Conditions

Pulmonary Regurgitation

Pulmonary regurgitation is a leakage of blood back into the heart before it reaches the lungs.

Pulmonary Valve Disease

Pulmonary valve disease includes several conditions that affect the pulmonary valve, through which blood passes as it travels from the heart to the lungs.

Pulmonary Stenosis

Pulmonary stenosis, also known as pulmonary valve stenosis, is a narrowing of the heart’s pulmonary valve. This narrowing slows blood flow from the heart to the lungs.

Tests

Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.

Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan

The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets and computer technology to create images of your heart and blood vessels.