Saint Vincent Hospital performs 700th TAVR implantation

The Saint Vincent Hospital’s Structural Heart team recently performed its 700th transcatheter aortic valve replacement device (TAVR) implantation at the hospital. This latest milestone demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to improving cardiac care for heart valve disease patients.

Used to treat aortic stenosis, TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure designed to deliver a new aortic valve without the need to surgically open the chest. The team of interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons deliver the new collapsible valve through a catheter inserted in the groin. They then inflate a balloon to expand the new valve into place, pushing the old valve leaflets out of the way and creating a new valve orifice.

“Saint Vincent Hospital continues to be a heart care leader in Central Massachusetts, pursuing advancements in cardiac treatment and technology,” said Mazen Roumia, MD, Interventional Cardiologist at Saint Vincent Hospital. “The Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement is a great option to treat patients through a less-invasive alternative and minimize the recovery time. Our goal is to get our patients back to the life they love and the activities they enjoy.

“Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a less invasive treatment option for those individuals with severe aortic stenosis who, because of age or other medical issues, might not be considered good candidates for traditional surgery,” explains Dr. Roumia.