Heart and vascular surgery

Over time, plaque in your arteries can harden, narrow and even rupture, causing blood clots to form. Blood clots can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery, which can lead to a heart attack. Surgical procedures such as CABG can be performed to lower your risk of a heart attack. Also known as a heart bypass or bypass surgery, CABG uses a blood vessel to go around a blockage in your artery. During surgery, your surgeon may take a piece of vein from your leg, wrist or other artery and attach one end above the blockage and one end below.

The aortic valve is located between the left ventricle of the heart and the aorta — the largest artery that supplies blood throughout the body.

Aortic valve stenosis, also known as aortic stenosis, is a narrowing of your aortic valve opening. This can block blood from going to your heart, which can cause pressure and a backup of blood flow. The condition can range from mild to severe.

Symptoms of aortic stenosis may include:

• Breathlessness
• Chest pain, pressure or tightness
• Decline in activity level or reduced ability to do normal activities that require mild exertion
• Fainting (syncope)
• Palpitations or a feeling of heavy, pounding or noticeable heartbeats

TAVR is a minimally invasive surgery used to treat aortic stenosis by replacing old, damaged valves. Because the replacement valve is fully collapsible, your surgeon can use a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) to place it in the valve site, requiring only a small incision. We were the first hospital in Richmond to perform this procedure, and our dedicated cardiovascular surgeons have found TAVR to be an incredibly effective option for improving quality of life.

Are you concerned about your heart health? Find one of our skilled heart surgeons easily online. Or if your primary care doctor has concerns related to your arteries or blood vessels, search for one of our experienced vascular surgeons.