Surgically implanted valves have a limited lifespan. Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) can effectively restore normal blood flow to the lungs and decrease the number of open-heart surgeries you need during your lifetime. Members of our structural heart and valvular disease and interventional cardiology teams have expertise in using both types of FDA-approved valves for TPVR, the Melody valve and the SAPIEN XT valve.
What to expect during TPVR
You’ll be put to sleep using general anesthesia. Your doctor will make a small incision in your groin and insert a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel. The doctor will guide the catheter through the artery to the damaged pulmonary valve. When it’s in position, the balloon will be inflated and the new valve will be secured in place. The doctor will then deflate the balloon and remove it and the catheter.
The procedure takes about an hour. You should be able to go home the next day and return to normal activities in a few days.
Conditions
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Pulmonary regurgitation: Pulmonary regurgitation is a leakage of blood back into the heart before it reaches the lungs.
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Pulmonary valve disease: Pulmonary valve disease includes several conditions that affect the pulmonary valve, through which blood passes as it travels from the heart to the lungs.
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Pulmonary stenosis: Pulmonary stenosis, also known as pulmonary valve stenosis, is a narrowing of the heart’s pulmonary valve. This narrowing slows blood flow from the heart to the lungs.
Tests
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Cardiac catheterization: Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.
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Computerized tomography (CT) scan: The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.
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Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.
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Electrocardiogram (ECG): An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Magnetic resonance imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets, and computer technology to create images of your heart and blood vessels.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Jafar Mansour Fawzi Alzubi, MBBS MD
Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease & Internal Medicine
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Ammar S Bafi, MD
Thoracic Surgery, Valvular Disease Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
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Ashley Chenoweth, AGACNP-BC BSN MSN
Cardiac Surgery
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Rimmy Farrakhan, MD
Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology
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Dorion Amanda Hoffmeister, MSPA PA
Interventional Cardiology
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Rania Kaoukis, MD
Cardiology
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Dureaden Khan, MPAS PA
Cardiac Surgery
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Kathleen J. Lavery, ACNP-BC MSN
Anesthesiology, Cardiac Surgery & Cardiac Electrophysiology
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Stacey Elizabeth Miller, ANPBC MSN
Cardiac Surgery
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Cierra Catherine O'Neill, MPAS PA
Cardiac Surgery
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Mark David Rhoads, DO
Anesthesiology
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David McNeely Roberts, MSPAS PAC
Cardiology
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Maria Esperanza Rodrigo, MD
Cardiology
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Ioana Andreea Rus, MD
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Ron Waksman, MD
Internal Medicine, Valvular Disease Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology
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Nancy Jo Davenport, MD
Cardiology
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Our locations
Distance from Change locationEnter your location
MedStar Health: Interventional Cardiology at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
201 East University Parkway Baltimore, MD 21218
410-554-6534
MedStar Health: Interventional Cardiology at MedStar Washington Hospital Center - Main Hospital
110 Irving Street, NW Suite 4B-1 Washington, DC 20010
202-877-2799
Additional information
Manage your healthcare
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Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.