Transcatheter Aortic Valve replacement is a newer, minimally invasive procedure used to treat aortic valve stenosis. Currently approved for those very high risk for a traditional open operation, it allows us to replace the aortic valve without open heart surgery. The procedure is done with a special bovine bioprosthetic valve that is crimped on a catheter, which can be introduced into the body through large catheters inserted into the femoral artery from the groin, or directly into the heart from the chest wall via a small incision. This “stent valve” will be inflated inside the dysfunctional calcified aortic valve and can be done on the beating heart. Our structural heart specialists perform this procedure with the valve team at Baystate Medical Center. Click for more information.