Scottsdale Healthcare Among 1st U.S. Hospitals to Offer Aortic Valve Replacement Without Open Heart Surgery

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Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center is among the first U.S. hospitals to receive approval to perform a new nonsurgical heart valve replacement procedure, the Edwards Sapien Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

TAVR is significant because it does not require open chest surgery, giving hope for heart patients with inoperable aortic stenosis (failing heart valves). A catheter fed through the femoral artery is used to implant the Edwards Sapien Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve, which just received FDA approval for commercial use in the U.S.

“Patients with inoperable aortic stenosis tend to be older and sicker, often with multiple additional health issues complicating their condition,” explained Peggy Morehouse, RN, director of Heart and Vascular Services at Scottsdale Healthcare. “The TAVR procedure gives hope for extending the lives of these patients with improved quality of life.” 

The hospital's Hybrid Operating Room makes new procedures like TAVR possible.

The state-of-the-art, 800-sq. ft. Hybrid OR combines the latest surgical, cardiac catheterization and 3-D radiologic imaging technologies with real-time patient monitoring to allow the most complicated procedures without moving the patient for specialized procedures. 

The patient stays in place with the interventional cardiologist, electrophysiologist or interventional radiologist and heart and vascular surgeon all working side by side. "A multidisciplinary team of interventional cardiologists, radiologists and surgeons evaluates each patient for eligibility for the TAVR procedure and all are present in the Hybrid OR," according to Robert Riley, MD, medical director for cardiovascular surgery.

“Having everything in one room saves valuable time and eliminates the need to transport a patient from one room to another,” said interventional cardiologist Maulik Shah, MD. “This could make a big difference in many cases and may ultimately even save lives.” 

Patients interested in learning more about the TAVR procedure can call the Scottsdale Healthcare Heart Valve Clinic Coordinator at 480-323-3459.