Too often, issues like shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness and intermittent chest pain are chalked up to old age. But these may be symptoms of a heart condition called aortic valve stenosis, a narrowing of the opening between the heart’s left ventricle and the aorta, the largest artery in the body.

At Columbus Regional Health’s Heart and Vascular Center, cardiologist Nandu Gourineni, MD, leads a team that offers transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This less-invasive alternative to open-heart surgery involves placing a new valve within the existing aortic valve by threading it through a catheter inserted in the femoral artery in the groin.

“Patients who have risk factors including diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney issues that would prevent them from having traditional surgery would be eligible for TAVR,” Dr. Gourineni said. The procedure typically takes about an hour and requires a two-day hospital stay. He added that as the data on the durability of the TAVR valve accumulates, it may replace traditional open-heart valve replacement surgery as the preferred method.

A Spectrum of Services
Offering TAVR and other advanced heart procedures requires a multidisciplinary team, including interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists and cardiac nurses. This team meets regularly to discuss cases and the best approach for each patient.

Structural Heart Program Coordinator Mercedes Bare is the initial point of contact when patients are scheduled for a cardiac surgery procedure to help them navigate the process of testing, surgery and recovery.

“We streamline the pre-procedure process by bringing providers together to meet with patients in as few visits as possible,” she said. “We generally have one appointment for testing and education and a second appointment where the patient meets with the interventional cardiologist and the anesthesiologist.”

Get Back to Doing What You Love
Dr. Gourineni noted that, like TAVR, many elective heart procedures can improve chronic cardiac issues that have been progressing for years and have been underdiagnosed and undertreated. By addressing the root causes of these issues, not just the symptoms, patients can resume daily activities and maintain a good quality of life.

ONE-STOP SHOP
In addition to TAVR, CRH’s Heart and Vascular Center offers other advanced procedures including:

• Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
• Angioplasty
• Stenting for blocked blood vessels
• Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation for heart rhythm issues
  

Young at Heart
For one recent TAVR patient, Edward Taylor of Madison, Indiana, that meant getting back to life on his 300-acre farm. Since having the procedure, “I’ve had 14 months of uninterrupted health,” he said. “I just go home and do work like I did when I was 25.”

Learn more about TAVR and hear more of Edward’s story.