TAVR

FerRN · Jan 19, 2013

All I can say is that if my mother needed this done, I would tell her no, based on the outcomes I have seen.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 19, 2013

My facility's program is still in the infancy stage, and let me tell you is there ever a steep learning curve! I agree with FerRN, until they become experts at this procedure, I wouldn't have it or encourage my family/friends to have it. I know it's higher risk since these patients aren't considered for surgical intervention, but still, not the best for good outcomes.

RainyDayParade22, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2013

My facility has been doing TAVRs and I have seen both positive outcomes and not so positive outcomes. You do have to take into account that these patients are high risk anyway since they are not usually candidates for open heart surgery. There is a pretty extensive workup these patients have to go through to see if they even qualify for the TAVR. I work in the step down ICU, so I see these patients come out of the ICU and follow them until they are discharged home.

NiteNursee · Apr 6, 2014

The hospital I work in will start the TAVR procedure at the end of the month. We haven't had any training yet & it worries me. I've done a lot of research on the procedure & haven't found much out. Then there's the fact my dad is scheduled to have a TAVR placed in SLC end of April. At least they've done quite a few there. Hope all goes well. If anyone has any info pass it my way please. Thanks.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 6, 2014

A nursing-focused presentation on TAVR:

http://www.pennstatehershey.org/documents/307082/10416481/Robinson+Handout/7f2a7714-de8d-49a1-826d-02ce52127c88

Article based on the PARTNER study:

Critical care management of patients following transcatheter aortic valve replacement - F1000Research

Good your dad is having it at a hospital where many are done.

I wish him the best!

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2014

All I can say is that if my mother needed this done, I would tell her no, based on the outcomes I have seen.

What outcomes have you seen?

I can say I had one patient who had a TAVR who coded 2 days after surgery because of electrolyte issues, but that can happen to a patient who has the traditional open heart surgery. I took care of him well after that event occurred, because he had a trach and was difficult to wean off the vent, so he was on my med surg floor.

Nervous1 · Apr 16, 2014

All I can say is that if my mother needed this done, I would tell her no, based on the outcomes I have seen.

Ditto

Nervous1 · Apr 16, 2014

Stroke is our main issue post operatively. Have seen 1 MVR done via TAVR approach on a very young person that seemed to turn out well. I think we have done 10 and I would estimate that 6 had a stroke post op. 2 have done really, really well. But they are few and far between.

delphine22 · Apr 16, 2014

We have established a "valve clinic" which supposedly is one of the early steps to be able to do TAVR. Just heard the CT surgeons discuss it at a symposium and even they made it sound like not a good approach. The surgeon giving the talk seemed to much prefer the mini-AVR instead.

MendedHeart · Apr 29, 2014

We have been doing TAVRS for a good while now. Most of the patient outcomes are good. There have been a few that didn't do so good. One thing to remember is that this procedure is donE because the patient cannot have conventional Valve surgery per sternotomy. These patients already have many comorbidities. This adds a year + to the patients life.

CUNICU · Oct 17, 2014

Our hospital recently started a TAVR program. Can you please shed some light on how you are securing your temp pacing wires? Ours are transvenous and in our first case was pulled with the PA catheter r/t leaking at the site. Thanks for your response. S