Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Round Rock's new minimally invasive heart procedure is the first alternative to open heart surgery offered in Williamson County, according to a Feb. 24 BSW news release. BSW Health has expanded its transcatheter aortic value replacement, or TAVR, program to BSW Round Rock, per the release.

“Bringing this option to our patients in the Austin area allows them to stay closer to home during their procedure and recovery,” said Angel Caldera, the medical director of BSW Round Rock's catheterization lab, in the release. “This new procedure reflects our team’s multidisciplinary approach to care and our commitment to provide quality heart care.”

With the addition of BSW Round Rock's program, BSW now has six locations with the procedure and has performed more than 3,600 TAVRs, according to the release. BSW Round Rock's program encompasses heart disease prevention as well as diagnosis and treatment for a range of heart and vascular conditions, according to the release.

The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the use of TAVR for patients unable to undergo open heart operations in 2012, for high-risk patients in 2014 and for medium-risk patients in 2017, per the release.

Compared to traditional open heart surgeries, TAVR procedures often result in a shorter recovery period, according to BSW. The TAVR program also provides treatment to patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis, or the narrowing of the aortic valve opening that sends blood from aorta through one's body.


“For more than 10 years, we have provided cardiac services to our patients suffering from heart disease,” said Robin Watson, chief medical officer of BSW Round Rock, in the release. “With this new program, we continue our commitment to provide quality heart care for patients suffering from aortic stenosis.”

Other BSW hospitals that offer TAVR, aside from Round Rock, include the following:

  • Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–College Station

  • Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital–Plano

  • Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital–Dallas

  • Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center–Fort Worth

  • Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Temple


A video of the first TAVR procedure performed at BSW Round Rock is included below.