Aortic Stenosis

Treating heart valve diseases can be complicated. UR Medicine’s Advanced Heart Valve Center provides the latest treatment options, with multiple types of providers who will personalize your treatment.

Diagnosing Aortic Stenosis

We use state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to form the most accurate picture of your heart health as possible. Our experts will discuss all test results, therapeutic strategies and decisions with your referring or primary care physician to make sure you get the treatment that’s right for you. Diagnostic methods include:

• Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography with 3D imaging
• Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Multi-detector computed tomography with 3D reconstruction
• Cardiac catheterization

Treating Aortic Stenosis

Treatments for aortic stenosis differ depending on the severity of the disease. You may only need to be monitored by your doctor periodically, while a severe case may require surgery.

No medications have yet been shown to slow the progression of aortic stenosis, though controlling your blood pressure may improve valve function. 

Your provider may prescribe medications to manage your symptoms, like:

• Antiarrhythmic medication, to help your heart maintain a regular rhythm
• ACE inhibitors or beta blockers, used to lower blood pressure
• Diuretics, to manage fluid retention

Patients with aortic stenosis may need valve repair or replacement surgery.

• Heart valve repair involves using a patient's own tissue to fix the defective valve. UR Medicine Cardiac Care provides the most advanced procedures for heart valve repair.
• Heart valve replacement means putting in a new mechanism to replace a severely damaged valve. UR Medicine Cardiac Care offers the very latest options for heart valve replacement, including valves made from natural and artificial materials.
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a rapid, minimally invasive procedure to treat severe valve disease offered at UR Medicine Cardiac Care.