The Heart and Vascular Institute of Eastern Kentucky at Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) continues to advance patient care with minimally invasive Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), offering a safer alternative to open-heart surgery for qualifying patients with valve disease. Having performed hundreds of successful procedures, the hospital is providing quicker recovery times and improved quality of life for patients, especially seniors and those with complex health conditions.
“A lot of patients develop calcium deposits in the valve and then the valve narrows. When the valve narrows, not enough blood gets out of the heart to supply the brain and the kidneys — and the patients can become very dizzy when they walk. They can develop shortness of breath,” said Dr. Dermot Halpin, a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Dr. Halpin continued by saying, “When this happens, not all patients can undergo a major procedure like open heart surgery, including patients in their 80s and 90s, as well as those who may have other diseases. That’s where the TAVR procedure can be particularly beneficial as it allows for the replacement of the aortic valve without cutting open the chest.”
Using a multi-disciplinary team that includes PMC cardiothoracic surgeons and interventional cardiologists, a TAVR is usually performed by going through the legs and replacing the valve.
“It is a procedure that comes with a quick recovery,” said Halpin. “In most circumstances, the patient is usually up and moving the same day and able to go back home the following day.”
This innovative approach to valve replacement is just one example of how Pikeville Medical Center remains at the forefront of advanced cardiac care. By offering cutting-edge, patient-centered treatments like TAVR, PMC is ensuring that more people—especially those who may not be candidates for open-heart surgery—have access to life-saving procedures with shorter recovery times and improved outcomes.
