THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano has become one of only 100 hospitals in the country to perform Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement without open-heart surgery. Patients with severe aortic stenosis can now be considered for the less-invasive treatment with the new FDA-approved device known as the Edwards SAPIEN Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). The TAVR method provides an important new treatment option for certain patients with severe, symptomatic aortic valve stenosis.
Patients with aortic stenosis who do not receive an aortic valve replacement have no long-term treatment option to prevent or delay the progression of severe aortic stenosis.
With transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a patient undergoes a 60 to 90-minute procedure, compared with four to six hours for open-heart surgery. In open-heart surgery, the surgeon cuts through the chest bone, stops the heart, removes the valve and replaces it. This surgery can require a two to three month recovery period, compared to only a few days for most patients with the transcatheter approach.
“TAVR is an innovative approach to heart valve replacement and gives new hope to patients who could not withstand surgery due to age or other concurrent health factors,” says David Brown, M.D., FACC, FACP, medical director of interventional cardiology and transcatheter valve therapy at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano. “According to recent studies, TAVR is a less invasive alternative for these patients and is as effective as open-heart surgery in terms of long-term survival.”
Severe aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the arotic valve opening that does not allow normal blood flow. It occurs when the aortic valve does not properly open and close, usually due to build-up of calcium or mineral deposists. The restriction of blood flow increases pressure within the heart, causing heart muscles to weaken which can increase the risk of heart failure. Symptoms may include extreme fatigue, dizziness, chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath during activity, rapid or irregular heart beat and fainting.
During TAVR, a tissue heart valve is implanted into the body using a catheter that is inserted through a small needle stick in the leg and threaded through the artery up to the heart. The new valve is positioned inside the patient’s existing valve, using a balloon ro deply the frame, which holds the artificial valve in place. The procedure is performed on a beating heart, without the need for a heart and lung machine.
In January, a multidisciplinary team of heart valve specialists on the medical staff performed one of the hospital’s first transcatheter aortic valve replacements on 80-year-old Hugh Herreid of Coppell.
Mr. Herreid was diagnosed with aortic stenosis ten years ago. “My family doctor listened to my chest and told me that the blood flow didn’t sound right,” said Mr. Herreid. “I had an echocardiogram and found out that my valve was not opening completely.”
Mr. Herreid’s symptoms increased to the point that he had shortness of breath while doing normal activities. An echocardiogram showed his valve was not opening completely. According to Dr. Brown, aortic valves will deteriorate over time and the tissue will begin to stiffen, preventing the valve from opening fully.
Due to Mr. Herreid’s age and other underlying health conditions, open-heart surgery was not an option. He was a good candidate for the new TAVR procedure. When asked how he felt about being one of the first patients at THE HEART HOSPITAL to have this advanced procedure he said, “My wife and I felt good about it – not nearly as much cutting – we were all for it.”
Shortly after Mr. Herreid underwent TAVR, he was sitting up and walking comfortably while breathing easier. He went home within 48 hours of the treatment.
Mr. Herreid is looking forward to getting back on his feet and spending more time with his seven grandchildren. “I don’t know if I will be running circles around the house just yet, but I know they [grandchildren] will definitely keep me busy,” said Herreid.
At THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano, a team of heart specialists evaluate patients for the TAVR treatment. This multidisciplinary, heart team approach is essential to providing quality patient outcomes in this advanced procedure.
“We continue to be a leader in heart valve surgeries,” says Mark Valentine, president at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano. “Having Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement available as a treatment option for our more high risk patients demonstrates our commitment to offering advanced, innovative technology that can save lives and improve quality of life.”
For more information on Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano or to find out if you are a candidate for this procedure, call Amy Barnette at 469.814.4737.
Notice Regarding Physician Ownership: THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano is a hospital in which physicians have an ownership or investment interest. The list of the physician owners or investors is available to upon request. Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano or Baylor Health Care System.
*Source: TRG Consultative Services, Denver, Colorado
CONTACT:
Leanne Pettit
Telephone: 469.814.3524
E-mail: leanne.pettit@baylorhealth.edu
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As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White is empowering customers to live well by reimagining traditional healthcare — creating more convenient, personalized and informed experiences. It serves more than three million customers through 53 hospitals, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple; the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; 1,300+ access points; 59,000+ team members; and its leading digital platform — MyBSWHealth. The system's award-winning employer solutions include Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and Levanto — a company offering digitally enabled health products. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White's mission is to promote the health and well-being of all individuals, families and communities. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com
