The singular risk in any coronary treatment that is invasive, including catheter use, is going to be the risk of stroke as a result of clots, followed by the risk of undesired bleeding. Both risk assessments fall below the 2% range across populations, generally, although an individual's risk might be higher due to other factors, co-morbitities and treatments/medications that might contraindicate. Reduction of this risk is a primary concern and is addressed during initial consultations and with instructions issued to the patient on preparation immediately prior to surgery.

Thanks—
Also, will there be a period of rehab after this procedure?

It's only a guess on my part, but generally no. You would probably be invited, not necessarily encouraged...invited...to rest for a couple of days to get over the trial of it all, maybe get more sleep as well if you've run short working yourself into a knot [ :-)], that kind of thing. But the heart is a working muscle that runs 24/7, and it is robust. You should be able to resume normal activities. One caveat though: if you have let 'yourself go' some because you were reluctant to stress your body or to do much physical activity, you may find that you will need to pace yourself and to build your capacity for endurance and for heavier work over the next months. For example, going for a hike with hills involved might leave you very fatigued, sore, and generally disappointed with the experience. Build yourself back up over several weeks and use your intuition to pace your own recovery.

Will abide by these suggestions—

It might give you some peace of mind to know that "Since its first use in 2002, more than 400,000 people around the world have undergone TAVR. In 2019, TAVR became the most common method to replace the aortic valve, with 72,991 TAVR procedures compared to 57,626 surgical valve replacements."

I'm not a doctor. Just trying to help. For general info, take a look at these articles from some well-known, reputable websites. They include general info, as well as risks and recovery info:

Info about surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) vs. transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR):

An article I found from 2021 stated the newest aortic valve replacement procedure was TAVR (SAPIEN 3). You should ask your doc if that is what they'd be doing, or something newer.

This website a nice, simple animated video showing the placement of the mechanical valve in the aorta:

Here's some other info I came across that helps explain the difference between SAVR and TAVR:

TAVR: TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that involves accessing the heart through blood vessels, typically in the groin, and delivering a collapsible artificial valve to the aortic position using a catheter. The new valve is expanded and replaces the diseased valve.

SAVR: SAVR is an open-heart surgery that requires a sternotomy, where the breastbone is divided to access the heart. The damaged valve is surgically removed, and a prosthetic valve is sewn into place.

Invasiveness:
TAVR: TAVR is less invasive than SAVR since it does not require a large incision or stopping the heart during the procedure. It is often performed under conscious sedation or general anesthesia.
SAVR: SAVR is a more invasive procedure that involves opening the chest, stopping the heart, and using a heart-lung machine to circulate blood during the surgery. It is performed under general anesthesia.

Patient Characteristics:
TAVR: TAVR is generally considered for patients who are at high or intermediate surgical risk, especially those who are elderly or have multiple comorbidities that make open-heart surgery riskier.
SAVR: SAVR is typically performed on patients who are at low or intermediate surgical risk, including those who are younger and healthier with no significant comorbidities.

Recovery:
TAVR: TAVR typically offers a quicker recovery period compared to SAVR. The hospital stay is usually shorter, and patients may experience less pain and have a faster return to daily activities.
SAVR: SAVR requires a longer recovery period due to the invasive nature of the procedure. Hospital stays are typically longer, and patients may have a slower return to normal activities.

Risks and Complications:
TAVR: While TAVR is less invasive, it is associated with certain risks such as vascular complications, stroke, valve leakage, and the need for repeat procedures.
SAVR: SAVR carries risks associated with open-heart surgery, including bleeding, infection, blood clots, stroke, and a longer rehabilitation period.

If you go the TAVR route, ask your cardiologist how long the artificial valve is designed to last (vs. how long the prosthetic valve used in SAVR is supposed to last).

Hello @cathyroc. You will notice I have moved your post into an existing discussion on aortic valve replacement, which you can find here:
- Aortic Valve Replacement with TAVR: What is it like?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/aortic-valve-replacement/

I did this to allow you to connect with members like @yongy @user_ch32491d1 @phstf1962 and @gloaming.

Have you had a pre-surgical consult? When is your procedure scheduled?