Aortic Valve Bypass (AVB)

Patients with aortic valve stenosis, a narrowing or stiffening of the aortic heart valve, are often considered for valve repair or replacement because the condition can be deadly. Yet some patients are not good candidates for valve surgery due to scar tissue from previous cardiac surgeries and other reasons.

Aortic valve bypass, or AVB, a minimally invasive procedures, uses synthetic fabric tubing containing a replacement valve to bypass the diseased valve. This method gives the patient a new valve and better blood flow without open surgery or the use of a heart-lung machine. The Porter Institute for Valvular Heart Disease is one of only a few centers in the U.S. performing aortic valve bypass.

For expertise on aortic valve bypass, contact the specialists at Abington’s Pilla Heart Center, including the Porter Institute for Valvular Heart Disease and Cardiothoracic Surgery.