An estimated 1.5 million heart patients across the nation suffer from aortic stenosis, the narrowing of a heart valve that restricts blood flow to the heart.
For patients at low-risk for death or major complications, open-heart surgery has been the standard treatment. However, just last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new option for low-risk patients suffering from the disease.
It's a minimally invasive open-heart surgery alternative called trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Baylor Scott & White Heath's 15 years of research helped bring more access to the innovative health care. They said this approach has decreased complications and shortened recovery time to one day, rather than several days in the hospital.
