Spring Valley Hospital Now Offers Minimally Invasive Procedure for Diseased Aortic Valves
Spring Valley Hospital now offers transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive method to replace the aortic valve. TAVR is performed on patients with a diagnosis of aortic stenosis, which is caused by a build-up of calcium deposits on the valve. In turn, this makes the heart pump harder and restricts blood flow. This common but serious valve disease can lead to heart failure or cardiac arrest if left untreated.
The minimally invasive procedure is performed by an interdisciplinary medical team, including an interventional cardiologist, cardiovascular thoracic surgeon, nurses and techs. During the procedure, a collapsible valve is inserted within the diseased valve, and becomes responsible for regulating blood flow. The diseased valve is not removed; the new valve pushes it aside. The procedure is performed in a specially designed 1,200 square-foot suite called a hybrid operating room.
The TAVR procedure can replace traditional open heart surgery by threading a catheter through the femoral artery near the groin or via a small chest incision. This provides a viable option to treat aortic stenosis in patients who may not be good candidates for open heart surgery.
“TAVR is a relatively recent, well-researched and life-changing procedure that changes the way we treat intermediate and high-risk aortic stenosis patients,” said Georges Tanbe, MD, medical director of Spring Valley Hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab. “The technology transforms a large operation into a minimally invasive, percutaneous procedure with reduced pain, blood loss and recovery times.”
Aortic stenosis is a lethal disease that remains undertreated, according to Nauman Jahangir, MD, cardiovascular thoracic surgeon with Las Vegas Cardiovascular Surgery Specialists. “Transcatheter and minimally invasive valve surgery techniques are opening up opportunities for life-saving procedures to a larger group of patients who can now look forward to an improved quality of life and a better and longer life span.”
“I’m very pleased to add TAVR to our other advanced heart and vascular procedures,” said Leonard Freehof, CEO/Managing Director of Spring Valley Hospital. “It’s one more way we can enhance a patient’s quality of life by providing minimally invasive options for heart disease.”