St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana is first in the state to offer the recently FDA Approved Edwards SAPIEN® valve. For patients who suffer from severe aortic stenosis—a condition that occurs when the heart’s aortic valve narrows and restricts proper blood flow—a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the Edwards SAPIEN® valve can help. And it’s even better news for severe aortic stenosis patients for whom open-chest surgery is not an option.
Approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from aortic stenosis. And 250,000 develop debilitating symptoms that affect their daily activities. And if left untreated, aortic stenosis can lead to more serious heart problems. That’s why treatments like TAVR are important, especially for patients who are not candidates for surgery.
So how does it work? Through a small cut in the thigh, the new Edwards SAPIEN® valve is inserted into the body and guided through the femoral artery via a catheter until it reaches the diseased aortic valve. The Edwards SAPIEN® valve is then expanded with a balloon and threaded to the aortic valve’s three leaflets—three flaps of tissue that open and close to regulate blood flow—holding it in place. And this allows blood to flow through the aortic valve naturally.
By collaborating with primary care physicians, St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana cardiologists and surgeons are able to determine if a TAVR procedure is right for each patient. In many cases, TAVR offers a new treatment solution for patients with severe aortic stenosis who have struggled with other treatment options.
Click here to learn more about aortic stenosis, or go here to learn more about the Edwards SAPIEN® valve, or learn more about the Valve Center of Excellence at St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana.