Ascension North East Wisconsin - Mercy Campus issued the following announcement on Dec. 15
Ascension Providence has reached a major milestone in its minimally invasive heart program. It’s been just 18 months since the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was performed at Ascension Providence, but this week, the hospital's cardiac team completed its 100th procedure.
During this procedure, the narrowed aortic valve is replaced by inserting a catheter into the patient’s leg or chest, guiding the new valve to the heart. This new valve helps the heart pump blood properly. The doctor uses tiny incisions, which may shorten recovery time and lower risk of infection. Hospital stays are generally between two to three days.
TAVR can help restore blood flow and reduce the signs and symptoms of aortic valve stenosis — such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting and fatigue. This minimally invasive procedure is an alternative to open-heart aortic valve replacement surgery. Your doctor may recommend TAVR if you have the following:
- Severe aortic stenosis, where the heart valve becomes hardened and narrowed, making it harder for the heart to pump blood, that causes signs and symptoms.
- An aortic valve that isn't working as well as it should.
- Another health condition, such as lung or kidney disease, that makes open-heart valve replacement surgery too risky.
To learn more about TAVR, visit https://healthcare.ascension.org/specialty-care/cardiology
Original source can be found here.
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