Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (also known as percutaneous aortic valve replacement) is a minimally-invasive procedure that replaces the heart’s aortic valve in people with aortic stenosis. In this procedure, your doctor will insert a catheter into your groin or through a small incision in your chest to access the blood vessel. Your doctor uses advanced imaging techniques to guide the catheter through the blood vessels and to your heart. Once the catheter is positioned, special tools and the replacement valve are passed through the catheter. A balloon is expanded to push the replacement valve into place. Recovery after this procedure usually takes three to five days in the hospital.
