October 23, 2019
Pictured from left to right are: [Front Row] John Lesage, RN; Ben Schuler, RN; Brooke Everett, RN; V. Antoine Keller, MD; Garland Green, MD and Heath Auzenne, Medtronic[Back row] Rob Hickey, Medtronic; Ian Fitzgerald, RN
BATON ROUGE- Physicians at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) and Baton Rouge General Medical Center (BRG) are the first in Louisiana to use the Medtronic Evolut™ PRO+ TAVR System to treat patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis. CIS interventional cardiologist Dr. Garland Green and BRG cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. V. Antoine Keller performed the first three procedures with this system.
The Evolut™ PRO+ TAVR System includes four valve sizes with an external pericardial tissue wrap that provides advanced sealing for the largest indicated patient treatment range and the lowest delivery profile. This allows physicians to treat patients with a range of anatomical variations and reduces incidences of paravalvular leaks.
Severe aortic stenosis occurs when the aortic valve leaflets become stiff and thickened and have difficulty opening and closing, making the heart work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body and, therefore, impacting an individual’s daily activities. If left untreated, patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis can die from heart failure in as little as two years. Symptoms of aortic stenosis may include breathlessness, chest pressure or tightness, fainting, palpitations, or heart murmur.
“Valvular heart disease is one of the most common forms of heart disease in America,” explained Dr. Keller. “Fortunately, technological advancements are allowing us to take care of a wider range of patients with minimally-invasive techniques that allow patients to get back to their lives with minimal discomfort. We are, indeed, in the midst of a sea of change in the treatment for patients with heart valve problems.”
“Nothing satisfies a physician more than seeing smiles of their patients when informed that new technology allows for lower-risk interventions instead of significant surgeries,” said Dr. Green. “The TAVR procedure is one of these procedures. We are pleased to be able to offer this treatment option to our community.”
Click here to learn more about transcatheter valve replacement or aortic stenosis.