TAVR is an alternative to open heart surgery
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| Dale Murphy of Spring Garden Township retrieves his mail during a recent Spring-like day. The simple act of walking to his mailbox used to tire him out and cause difficulties breathing. Murphy, who suffers from severe aortic stenosis, was the first patient at York Hospital to undergo a transaortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. |
Dale Murphy put on his Greek fisherman’s style hat, slipped on his coat and headed to his mailbox about 20 yards in front of his house. It’s a short trip, but one the 91-year-old retired teacher couldn’t make a couple months ago without getting tired and feeling chest pains.
Murphy, however, makes the trip today without any problems. The difference is the surgical procedure he underwent on Feb. 7 at York Hospital. He was the first patient to have a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
The procedure is an alternative for those who can not have open heart surgery.
“I feel fine since the surgery,” said Murphy. “I can’t believe the difference it made. I can breathe better, have more energy and my appetite has returned.”
TAVR is used to treat severe aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve opening that does not allow normal blood flow.
In elderly patients, severe aortic stenosis is often caused by the build-up of calcium, forcing the heart to work harder to push blood through the aortic valve.
“Severe aortic stenosis is a serious problem,” said William Nicholson, M.D., interventional cardiologist. “Without treatment, half of the people who feel sick from this problem die within an average of two years.”
TAVR provides almost immediate relief
Larry Shears, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon, added, “Some patients because of their age and physical condition are not candidates for open heart surgery. TAVR is less invasive and provides almost immediate relief.”
Nicholson, Shears and James Mills, M.D., performed the TAVR procedure on Murphy. TAVR involves inserting a sheath (a short hollow tube) into the femoral artery and putting a small balloon through the sheath into a blood vessel to reach the
aortic valve.
The balloon is inflated to open the narrowed valve, deflated and then removed. A transcatheter heart valve is placed on the delivery system (a long tube with a small balloon on the end) and compressed on the balloon to fit through the sheath.
The delivery system carries the valve to the aortic valve, where it is inflated with fluid within the diseased valve. The balloon is deflated and the new valve is positioned in place, taking over for the old valve.
“The doctors explained all the benefits and risks to me,” said Murphy, “and I thought the benefits outweighed the risks, particularly at my age. I think I would definitely feel worse, if I hadn’t had the procedure. I had great confidence in the doctors and their team at York Hospital. I was very impressed with them.”
York Hospital was chosen by Edward LifeSciences as one of three hospitals in the state to begin performing TAVR, partly for the teamwork approach they take to their work, according to Dr. Nicholson.
“It’s a good feeling to know we can offer patients an alternative to open heart surgery,” said Dr. Nicholson. “TAVR is an amazing procedure.”
Four patients have undergone the TAVR procedure since Murphy and all have done extremely well, according to Dr. Nicholson.