King's Daughters marks fourth anniversary of first TAVR procedure

On April 24, 2013, King’s Daughters performed the area’s first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, or TAVR. The procedure, which calls upon the expertise of cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, nurses and other health professionals, was initially offered to patients whose risk for open valve replacement surgery was considered too great.

Today, the procedure is made available to both high- and intermediate risk patients. Physicians involved in performing the procedure at King’s Daughters are cardiothoracic surgeons Robert Fried, M.D., and Eric Bronstein, M.D. and cardiologist Sri Velury, M.D. Nurse practitioner Larissa Pitts, APRN, works as TAVR program coordinator.

The TAVR procedure is performed similar to a cardiac catheterization. After the patient receives anesthesia, a balloon catheter is guided through the femoral (leg) artery to aorta and on to the aortic valve. Once in place, the physician deploys the balloon, destroying any calcification and restoring the size of the aortic valve opening. The balloon is removed and a catheter carrying the new valve is guided through the arteries to the aortic valve. Once in place, the valve is deployed and begins working immediately.

TAVR is a minimally invasive treatment for aortic stenosis, which is estimated to affect more than 12 percent of the population over the age of 75. Patients may have no symptoms of the disease, or may suffer from fainting, fatigue, inability to exercise, or lightheadedness, a heart murmur or enlarged heart. They may report chest tightness or shortness of breath.

For more information about TAVR at King’s Daughters, please call (606) 324-4745.