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In 2015, ARRMC became just the fourth hospital in Oregon to offer breakthrough transcatheter aortic valve replacements, or TAVR. Fast-forward six years, and team members at Asante Heart Valve Clinic are now seasoned veterans, having performed 500 of these lifesaving procedures.
The clinic, led by interventional cardiologist Kent Dauterman, MD, marked that milestone on May 20. “This program has become extremely successful and an important part of our cardiovascular program,” Dr. Dauterman said. “We are proud to be able to provide this service to the community as an effective option to improve the overall health and quality of life for those suffering from aortic valve disease.”
TAVRs are a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for high-risk patients with aortic valve disease. Instead of opening the chest, cardiologists make a small incision in the leg or chest and guide a catheter containing the new valve to the heart. The valve is placed over the damaged old valve, where it expands and is held in place by the vessel walls.
“By using this approach, the patient can undergo the procedure with less pain, a quicker recovery process and a much shorter hospital stay,” said Kim Yates, director of Perioperative Services at Asante Rogue Regional. “In some cases, the patient is able to bypass the critical care unit and be discharged home in about 36 hours.”
TAVR technology was considered a scientific breakthrough for patients with severe aortic stenosis, which restricts the opening of the aortic valve, because some were too fragile to withstand traditional open-heart surgery. The minimally invasive approach has resulted in improved quality and length of life for patients needing valve replacement.
The Heart Valve Clinic is a collaborative, multidisciplinary team that includes cardiothoracic surgeons, interventional cardiologists, a cardiologist with expertise in advanced imaging and the valve program coordinator. Before its creation, patients had to travel out of town to receive a TAVR.
In 2021, Asante is on track to care for more than 150 patients undergoing this procedure.
Tags: arrmc, Heart Valve Center, Kent Dauterman, milestone, TAVR, transcatheter aortic valve replacement
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A special thanks to the Cardiac Cath Lab Technologists. Their many years of experience in challenging situations help make each and every case successful.