Concierge structural heart · UK
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement - the valves, the platforms, the durability data.
TAVR is the US-preferred term for the same family of procedures the UK calls TAVI. This page is written for readers who want to compare valve platforms, delivery systems, sizing logic and durability data before they choose a device or a centre.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Device-level MDT
Not a generic heart team meeting - a working session that names the valve, the size, the delivery system and the deployment plan before the patient is booked.
- 02
The whole platform market, not one vendor
We work with UK centres that offer more than one platform - balloon-expandable, self-expanding and mechanically expanded - so the valve fits the anatomy, not the other way round.
- 03
Durability data in plain English
Five- and ten-year outcomes by device, on paper. What we know, what we don’t, and what it means for a patient in their sixties.
Indicative pricing
What a private TAVR costs in the UK, by platform.
Indicative ranges across our partner units. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options, with cover checked.
In short
TAVR in our network: £40,000–£55,000 all-inclusive by platform, home in 2–3 days.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAVR platform review consultation | £400–£700 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Gated cardiac CT for TAVR planning | £900–£1,600 | 30–45 min | 48 hours |
| Balloon-expandable TAVR (all-inclusive) | £40,000–£50,000 | 45–75 min | 2–3 nights |
| Self-expanding TAVR (all-inclusive) | £42,000–£55,000 | 60–90 min | 2–3 nights |
| Valve-in-valve TAVR | £45,000–£60,000 | 60–90 min | 2–3 nights |
| Cerebral embolic protection (add-on) | £2,500–£4,500 | - | Same procedure |
| Structured 5-year follow-up package | £2,500–£4,500 | 5 visits + echo | Annually |
Platform choice, cerebral embolic protection, valve-in-valve indication and cardiac rehab all shift the total. Firm quotes are itemised at platform level and confirmed within one working day.
The problem
Sizing the valve to the anatomy, not the anatomy to the valve.
TAVR outcomes turn on decisions made two weeks before the procedure - CT sizing, platform choice, commissural alignment and coronary re-access strategy.
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Was CT interpreted for TAVR, not general cardiac?
A dedicated structural heart imager runs the annulus, LVOT and iliofemoral analysis - not a general reporter.
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Did the MDT pick from more than one platform?
A centre with one platform has one answer. A centre with two or three can size the valve to the anatomy - the whole point.
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Was future coronary access planned in?
Commissural alignment now saves a PCI in five years’ time. It has to be planned deliberately, not just recorded afterwards.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery - what happens, in order.
One team from first message through the procedure and follow-up.
- 01
Before
You send us the imaging
Latest echo, any prior CT, ECG and medication list. If you have a preferred centre or valve, tell us.
- 02
Before
We come back with a shortlist
Within one working day: two or three UK structural heart centres, the platforms they offer, and what the sizing question is going to be.
- 03
Before
Gated CT and coronary angiography
Purpose-built TAVR CT for annulus, LVOT, sinus of Valsalva, coronary heights and iliofemoral run-off. Invasive or CT coronary work-up.
- 04
Before
Device-level MDT
Interventionalist, surgeon, imager and industry-neutral structural heart nurse. Valve type, size, waist strategy and coronary access plan agreed.
- 05
On the day
The procedure
Sedation or light GA, femoral access, valve deployed, paravalvular leak checked. Post-dilation only where needed. 45–90 minutes.
- 06
On the day
First 24 hours
Rhythm monitoring, echo, gentle mobilisation. Fast-track pathways discharge suitable patients in under 48 hours.
- 07
After
Structured platform-specific follow-up
Echo at 30 days, 6 months, then annually with device-specific gradient thresholds. Long-term durability review at year 5 and year 10.
When it helps
When TAVR technology earns its place.
Anatomy scenarios where platform choice really changes outcome, and one scenario - heavy sub-annular calcium - that changes the whole risk conversation.
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Standard sizing, standard anatomy
An annulus in the sweet spot for two or three platforms - a genuine platform choice, not a workaround.
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Small annulus / small aorta
Sizing under 21 mm favours self-expanding supra-annular valves with better haemodynamic profile.
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Large annulus
Sizing above 27 mm needs a platform with adequate large sizes and secure landing zone.
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Heavy asymmetric calcification
Balloon-expandable platforms handle bulky calcium well; extra-caution imaging for LVOT calcium and annular rupture risk.
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Bicuspid anatomy
A once-excluded group now well within experienced UK centres, with dedicated bicuspid sizing algorithms and often self-expanding devices.
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Low coronary heights
Under 10–12 mm to coronary ostia - platform choice matters and coronary re-access planning is essential.
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Valve-in-valve indication
A failing surgical bioprosthesis, sized by the surgical label - platform chosen for lowest residual gradient inside the failed valve.
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Red flag: annular rupture risk
Heavy sub-annular calcium raises rupture risk - an urgent case-by-case call between operator, surgeon and imager, not a routine booking.
Procedure options
Frame material, deployment mechanism, and how the seal is made.
What each platform brings - crimped versus self-expanding versus mechanically expanded, and the ancillary technology that supports them.
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Balloon-expandable platform
A cobalt-chromium frame with bovine pericardial leaflets, balloon-crimped and expanded. Predictable deployment, short frame, well suited to heavily calcified annuli. Strong ten-year data.
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Self-expanding platform
A nitinol frame with porcine pericardial leaflets, supra-annular design giving lower residual gradients - especially in small aortas. Recapturable, allowing repositioning.
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Mechanically expanded platform
A frame expanded and locked mechanically for precise sizing and paravalvular seal. Fully repositionable and retrievable. Availability varies by UK centre.
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Cerebral embolic protection
A small filter placed in the aortic arch to catch debris during valve deployment. Reduces stroke risk in some series; used selectively.
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Fast-track pathways
Conscious sedation, no urinary catheter, femoral suture closure, next-day discharge for suitable patients. Shortens length of stay without increasing complications.
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Coronary re-access planning
Frame orientation, commissural alignment and cell size all matter for future PCI. A platform chosen with coronary re-access in mind is a lifelong asset.
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Valve-in-valve
Transcatheter valve inside a failed surgical bioprosthesis. Platform and size are chosen by the surgical valve label - a very different sizing exercise.
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Non-TAVR options
Balloon aortic valvuloplasty as a bridge, surgical AVR for durability, watchful waiting for asymptomatic patients - detailed on our TAVI patient-decision page and heart valve surgery page.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of specialists, we picked them.
UK structural heart centres running audited volume, multi-platform inventories, and structured platform-specific follow-up.
Selection criteria
How we choose every specialist in our network.
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UK structural heart centres offering more than one commercial TAVR platform
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Dedicated structural heart imagers running gated CT and 3D reconstruction
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Fast-track pathways and device-level MDT documentation as standard
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Enrolment in the UK TAVI registry and platform-specific durability follow-up
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
The bulk of TAVR risk is engineered out by pre-procedural imaging and platform choice. What is left - stroke, pacemaker, PVL, coronary access - deserves an honest platform-level number.
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Access-site vascular injury
Femoral bleeding, dissection or false aneurysm in around 3–5% of cases - usually managed at the same sitting.
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Conduction disturbance
New left bundle branch block is common; permanent pacemaker rate varies by platform - higher for some self-expanding valves.
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Paravalvular leak
Modern platforms with outer skirts have made moderate PVL rare. Any PVL more than mild deserves attention - it affects long-term outcome.
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Stroke and cerebral embolic protection
Peri-procedural stroke around 2–3%. Cerebral embolic protection reduces the debris burden and is used selectively in higher-risk anatomy.
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Coronary obstruction and re-access
Rare but catastrophic on the day; more subtle if it makes future PCI hard. Platform choice and commissural alignment help.
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Annular rupture
Rare but severe. Careful sizing, avoidance of over-dilation and surgical backup are the mitigations.
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Long-term durability
Balloon-expandable and self-expanding platforms both have reassuring five- and now ten-year data. Fifteen-year data are still coming.
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Antithrombotic strategy
Single antiplatelet is now standard for most sinus-rhythm patients. Anticoagulation is used only where separately indicated.
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Red flags after discharge
New breathlessness, syncope, groin swelling, spreading redness or new neurological symptoms need same-day structural heart or A&E.
Reading your notes
Your notes in four parts. Read the last one first.
The interventional cardiologist’s note always names the platform, the size and the reason - and that is what makes long-term durability follow-up possible.
- 01 Header
Platform and sizing rationale
Which platform and size, and why - annulus dimensions, calcium pattern and coronary heights.
- 02 Technique
Deployment and imaging
Depth of implant, commissural alignment, post-dilation, and paravalvular seal on angiography and echo.
- 03 Findings
Haemodynamics and rhythm
Peak and mean gradient, effective orifice area, coronary flow, and any new conduction changes.
- 04 Impression
Follow-up and durability plan
Read this first: antithrombotic plan, follow-up schedule, and platform-specific durability thresholds for future review.
Recognised by major UK insurers
TAVR is usually covered when severe symptomatic AS is confirmed. Platform choice does not usually change cover, but cerebral embolic protection sometimes needs a separate line. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about TAVR technology.
Quick answers on approach, recovery, cost and long-term outcome.
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Is TAVR the same as TAVI?
Yes - same family of procedures under different names. TAVR (replacement) is the US-preferred term; TAVI (implantation) is used more in the UK and Europe. The device, the technique and the evidence base are the same. We use TAVR on this page to focus on the technology and platform comparison.
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Which valve platform is best?
No platform is best for every patient. Balloon-expandable valves suit heavily calcified annuli and give predictable deployment. Self-expanding supra-annular valves give lower residual gradients and suit small annuli. Mechanically expanded platforms are fully repositionable. A device-level MDT picks the platform for your specific anatomy.
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How long does a TAVR valve last?
Ten-year data for the earlier balloon-expandable and self-expanding valves show durability comparable to surgical bioprostheses. Fifteen-year data are still accumulating. Newer valves are expected to do at least as well but need time to prove it - which matters more the younger you are.
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How much does a private TAVR cost in the UK?
Roughly £40,000–£55,000 all-inclusive by platform, with cerebral embolic protection an extra £2,500–£4,500 where used. Valve-in-valve TAVR runs £45,000–£60,000. Structured five-year follow-up packages are £2,500–£4,500. We confirm firm figures within one working day.
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Can I have future coronary stents after TAVR?
Usually yes, and platform choice and commissural alignment during deployment make it easier. If you have coronary disease that may need stents in future, tell the heart team - it can change platform choice.
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What about the NHS?
Every NHS TAVI centre uses these platforms and the same evidence base. Private assessment gives faster access to the device-level MDT, faster gated CT, and a scheduled procedure date. NHS long-term follow-up is excellent; private follow-up packages give more contact points if you want them.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Patient-decision guide to the same procedure.
Learn more -
Heart valve surgery
Surgical bioprostheses and mechanical valves.
Learn more -
Percutaneous valve treatments
Other structural heart interventions.
Learn more -
Endoscopic mitral valve repair or replacement
Related structural work on the mitral side.
Learn more -
Coronary angioplasty
Sometimes staged with TAVR.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more