Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Surgery

The Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure, also referred to as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), can help patients with aortic stenosis who, prior to this procedure, were unable to seek surgical treatment.

An innovator in the treatment of heart disease, Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Florida was the first hospital in the Tampa Bay area selected to offer the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure to patients with aortic stenosis, and it is now one of only two hospitals in the state of Florida chosen to participate in the PARTNER II Trial, which is intended to make TAVR therapy a life-saving option for more patients. As a leader in heart care, Morton Plant Hospital was the first in the area to perform this monumental procedure through the transapical approach—an alternative approach in which a small incision is made between the ribs of the left and lower chest to provide direct access into the heart and across the diseased valve. This new approach allows for a faster procedure with a shorter recovery time than the standard aortic valve replacement.

This revolutionary heart valve surgery has already helped many patients with aortic stenosis return to the things they enjoy in life. If you have been diagnosed with aortic stenosis, talk to your physician about the TAVR procedure or about participating in the PARTNER II clinical trial.

If you are a physician who would like to refer a patient to the Valve Clinic to be screened for TAVR therapy or to be considered for participation in the PARTNER II clinical trial, fill out the Valve Clinic referral form and fax to or call us at (855) 448-2583. Patients who believe they may be candidates for TAVR should fill out the form on the right or call (855) 448-2583 or (727) 462-7239 to contact the Valve Clinic Coordinator.

To learn more about the PARTNER II Trial, please visit the U.S. National Institutes of Health clinical trials page.

News articles:

• Tampa Bay Times: 'Morton Plant Hospital is the first in area to offer new heart valve for patients without other options'
• ABC Action News: 'Morton Plant Hospital performs first Transcather Aortic Valve Replacement in Tampa Bay'
• Tampa Bay Medical News: ' Morton Plant Hospital claims first in Tampa Bay to perform life-enhancing TAVR'
• 'FDA Approval of Transapical Approach Offers Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis a New Surgical Option'