Provided via BSA Health System
BSA Health System performed its 200th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure on June 10, 2022. TAVR, Amarillo’s most advanced heart valve procedure, is an alternative to open-heart surgery for patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis is a condition in which the aortic valve in the heart narrows and reduces blood flow from the heart to the remainder of the body. If left untreated, aortic stenosis can lead to heart failure.
“As Amarillo’s only facility to perform TAVR, completing 200 TAVR procedures is a significant milestone for BSA’s heart program,” said BSA Vice President of Cardiovascular Services Matt Parker. “This advanced procedure aligns well with the care and dedication of our cardiovascular team. In each TAVR case, we are lowering the risk of heart failure in these patients.”
During the TAVR procedure, the cardiologist inserts a catheter through a small incision in the upper leg. A replacement valve is transferred through the catheter and opened at the damaged valve site to restore optimal blood flow to the body. Unlike traditional heart valve surgery, TAVR does not require surgical opening of the chest cavity.
“BSA is proud to offer patients access to less-invasive heart valve replacements,” said Parker. “Patients who have undergone a TAVR procedure experience shorter hospital stays, minimal scarring and faster recovery times compared to traditional heart valve procedures.”
BSA began offering the TAVR procedure in November 2019. A physician referral is required to be seen at the BSA Valve Clinic for evaluation for the TAVR procedures. For more information, visit bsahs.org/TAVR.
-BSA Health System