Perry County Woman Is First in World to Undergo New Type of Heart Valve Replacement
The patient was discharged and is recovering well, according to UPMC officials.
HARRISBURG, Pa. – An 82-year-old Perry County woman with aortic valve stenosis was the first person in the world to undergo a new type of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) at UPMC Harrisburg.
The patient was discharged and is recovering well, according to UPMC officials.
Hemal Gada, MD, president of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. performed the procedure using the state-of-the-art Evolut TAVR system approved by the FDA for the treatment of symptomatic severe aortic stenosis.
Dr. Gada is the first interventional cardiologist in the world to use this latest Evolut FX+ TAVR system.
“This is a significant achievement for patient care in our region,” Gada said. “The main distinguishing feature of the Evolut FX+ and the previous Evolut system is the ease of access to the coronary arteries, facilitated by the large openings in the valve structure. The improved life management of this system is highly beneficial for patients undergoing the TAVR procedure, especially younger patients who may require additional procedures in the future.”
“The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. continues to be a leader in clinical research and patient care, transforming the delivery of the Evolut platform and improving clinical outcomes such as reducing pacemaker rates,” Gada added. “This impacted the treatment of aortic stenosis and made it easier for patients to leave the hospital in better health.”
Severe aortic stenosis occurs when the aortic valve leaflets become stiff and thickened and have difficulty opening and closing, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. Severe aortic stenosis often reduces a patient’s quality of life and limits their daily activities.
If left untreated, 50% of patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis can die from heart failure in just two years.
Doctors at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in central Pennsylvania were also the first in the region to perform open heart surgery and the first to perform balloon angioplasty on the coronary artery. Other innovations include the implantation of a drug-eluting coronary stent, percutaneous (minimally invasive) aortic valve procedures (TAVR), and the implantation of an FDA-approved percutaneous mitral valve repair device.
Among other recognitions, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. recently achieved the distinguished three-star rating, the highest rating possible, from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in four of five total categories for patient care and outcomes. This three-star rating places UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. among the most elite heart surgery programs – the top 1% – in the United States and Canada.
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