A heart beats about 35 million times each year.
How many times has your heart has beaten in your lifetime?
Unfortunately, the higher the number, the higher the risk of a narrowing or stiffening or leaky aortic valve.
“Our parts do wear out if we live long enough,” said Dr. David Joyce, cardiac surgeon at East Falls Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. “But now we have treatment to replace the aortic valve if stenosis (narrowing or stiffening) occurs. The evolution of technology and this treatment is extraordinary.”
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement treatment (TAVR): Less invasive procedure, more quality of life
TAVR is a minimally invasive heart procedure used to restore blood flow through a damaged aortic valve. During the procedure, a doctor inserts a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin or chest area and then uses imaging guidance to access the heart. Once the physician places the catheter in the correct position, she/he replaces the damaged aortic valve with one made from cow heart tissues.
“With TAVR, we can perform the same intervention that used to require open heart surgery and a significant stay in the hospital completely by catheter and have patients going home within 24 hours. Plus, we get better outcomes than we would with traditional open-heart surgery,” said Dr. Joyce, who has been working with TAVR patients for the past 12 years.
As benefits of the minimally invasive procedure, TAVR patients experience less blood loss, less pain, smaller chances of infection, shorter hospital stays, quicker recoveries and more positive results. TAVR offers a clear win for patients.
“The thing that always impresses me is how we can even offer this procedure to patients who are at very advanced in age,” Dr. Joyce said. “For example, my grandmother was 97 years old when she had her TAVR procedure, and it made a night and day difference in her quality of life. She had been debilitated with heart failure prior to that, and the TAVR treatment allowed her to thrive.”
EIRMC: Where experience, expertise and equipment combine
Dr. Joyce joined the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) team as a cardiac surgeon on the day the facility celebrated its 300th trans aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. Right away, he noticed how the impressive team of providers collaborated and cared for patients.
“Using a sports analogy, if your goal is to win a championship, you want good athletes who play well together on a team. We have that in a way I’ve never experienced anywhere else I’ve worked. We have competent cardiologists who diagnose with precision, interventional cardiologists with such strong capabilities in the operating room, and all top-quality technology to make the procedures possible. Finding this combination is rare!” Dr. Joyce said.
Don’t skip a beat: These three symptoms call for an appointment
Wondering about the health of your aortic valve? If you notice any one of these three symptoms, Dr. Joyce recommends seeing a doctor: chest pain, light headedness or shortness of breath.
“If patients notice they have one of those symptoms, they need an echocardiogram. Heart valve disease leads to heart failure, and it greatly impacts quality and longevity of life, so we take this seriously,” Dr. Joyce said.
Patients do not need a referral to schedule an appointment with Dr. Joyce or his colleagues at East Falls Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery; simply call (208) 535-4580.
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