HEART
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Treasure Coast Medical Report
organs, resulting in shortness of breath, chest pain, blackouts
and heart failure.
For many patients, TAVR may be an option. Instead of
opening up the chest, this innovative surgery involves
threading a long, thin, flexible tube, or catheter, through
the femoral artery in the groin to the heart. The new valve
is crimped down to a diameter smaller than a pencil and
guided through the catheter with the help of imaging, until it
reaches the diseased aorta. Once it is precisely positioned, a
balloon is expanded to press the replacement valve into place
in the native aortic valve. The new valve then immediately
starts working.
“So, what you effectively end up with is a valve replacement,”
says Dr. Cary Stowe, a cardiovascular surgeon in Vero
Beach. “It’s a valve placed inside your old valve, but we’re
able to do it with a one-inch incision. It’s much less traumatic
for the patient and allows us to perform aortic valve replacement
in that group of patients who prior to TAVR were too
high risk for traditional surgery.”
EASIER RECOVERY
Patients experience a shorter recovery period with TAVR
compared to traditional valve replacement. The recovery time
from TAVR averages two to three days in a hospital. It’s an
average five- to six-day stay for open-heart surgery. There’s
no sternotomy, an incision through the sternum, with TAVR,
which means an easier recovery.
“There’s much less injury to the person with a percutaneous
procedure, so really they recover a lot quicker,” says Dr.
Stephen McIntyre, an interventional cardiologist in Stuart.
“They’re up and walking, feeling pretty good by the time >>
DR. PRASAD CHALASANI COLLECTION
Dr. Prasad Chalasani performed the area’s first TAVR procedure on James
Wigginton at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center.
The Frances Langford Heart Center at
Martin Health System provides exceptional,
compassionate cardiac care to help
patients lead longer and healthier lives.
MARTIN HEALTH SYSTEM