SAVR

SAVR is an acronym that most often refers to Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement, a cardiac procedure used to treat disease of the aortic valve. It is typically performed as open-heart surgery with the patient placed on cardiopulmonary bypass, allowing the surgeon to remove the diseased native valve and implant a prosthetic valve. The operation can be done through a full sternotomy or, in selected patients, via less invasive approaches.

Indications for SAVR include severe aortic stenosis or severe aortic regurgitation that causes symptoms, heart failure, or risk of adverse outcomes. The implanted prosthetic valve may be mechanical, which generally lasts longer but requires lifelong anticoagulation, or bioprosthetic (tissue-based), which may have limited durability but carries less long-term thromboembolic risk. The choice of valve type depends on patient age, comorbidities, lifestyle, and preferences. Postoperative recovery involves hospitalization, followed by gradual return to daily activities; long-term outcomes depend on factors such as age, overall health, and valve durability.

Compared with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), SAVR is more invasive but may be preferred for younger patients, those with complex valve pathology, or cases where simultaneous cardiac procedures are needed. TAVR, being less invasive, is often considered for higher-risk or older patients, though patient selection continues to evolve with medical advances. Potential risks of SAVR include bleeding, infection, stroke, valve dysfunction, and the need for reoperation.

Other uses of the acronym SAVR exist in different disciplines, but in medical literature, SAVR most commonly denotes Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.