Premier Health Marks Milestone with 100th TAVR Patient
DAYTON, Ohio (January 10, 2017) – When the physicians at Premier Health performed Dayton’s first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in 2014, they knew they were part of something groundbreaking. Since that time, Premier Health has successfully completed 100 TAVR cases, achieving a milestone in the treatment of heart disease in Dayton.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a less invasive treatment option for those individuals with severe aortic stenosis who, because of age or other medical issues, might not be considered good candidates for traditional surgery. Premier Health’s TAVR team of specialists treat aortic heart disease by delivering a replacement valve, via a catheter and through the body’s cardiovascular system, to the heart. TAVR is an alternative to open-heart surgery and is performed while the heart is still beating.
“Having this procedure available in Dayton has been a major plus for our community,” said C. David Joffe, MD, interventional cardiologist at Good Samaritan Hospital (closed in 2018) and a member of Premier Health’s TAVR team. “Everyone has been very pleased with the response to the program, and patients have appreciated having care they need close to home.”
The heart has a series of one-way gates called valves that keep blood moving in the right direction. A poorly functioning or narrowed valve interferes with smooth blood flow and the delivery of oxygenated blood. Aortic stenosis is a valve disease that limits blood flow from the heart. Individuals of any age can be affected by aortic stenosis, but the disease progresses in severity as people age, calcium deposits build up, and their valve’s ability to fully open and close diminishes.
There is no reversal of aortic stenosis. Symptoms and treatment depend upon the stage of progression and the degree to which the valve can still function properly. Prognosis is poor for untreated severe stenosis and replacing the valve is generally recommended. The traditional method of aortic valve replacement is an open-heart procedure.
"This has been a collaborative team effort,” said James Pacenta, MD interventional cardiologist at Miami Valley Hospital and part of the TAVR team. “Physicians from across the system are working in concert together, with a focus on our individual patients and their personal quality of life goals.”
TAVR is performed at Miami Valley Hospital by physicians experienced in interventional cardiology, advanced cardiac imaging, cardiothoracic surgery, and anesthesiology.
“The great thing about TAVR is that it is minimally invasive. The patient is in the hospital anywhere from three to five days and they get a new lease on life,” Dr. Joffe said.
To learn more about TAVR or other cardiovascular services provided by Premier Health, visit premierhealth.com/TAVR or call (937) 499-7472.
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