Ask the doctor: Understanding aortic valve sclerosis
Aortic valve stenosis also produces a murmur that a doctor can hear. This potentially more serious condition occurs when the aortic valve is narrowed and can't open fully enough to allow sufficient blood to flow from the heart into the aorta. An echocardiogram helps make the diagnosis. Traditionally, doctors used open-heart surgery to repair or replace the valve. But a less invasive procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) can replace the faulty aortic valve via a catheter threaded up to the heart from an artery in the leg. TAVR can be a good option for people with advanced symptoms when open-heart surgery is too risky.
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