The mitral valve is one of four in the heart that help stop blood from
flowing backward. When it doesn’t close tightly preventing that backward flow,
the heart cannot pump enough oxygen rich blood to the body. That can cause
fatigue, shortness of breath and heart failure.
When a
mitral valve stops performing as it should, surgeons can replace it, but over
time if the new valve becomes diseased and begins to malfunction itself,
patients face another significant open-heart operation.
For
some, that second operation is too risky, leaving doctors with few options.
Until now.
Valve in
Valve Trans-Catheter Mitral Valve Replacement (ViV TMVR) is a revolutionary new
procedure being performed at the Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute at
TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, Md. It’s a minimally invasive
option for those patients doctors feel are not good candidates for a second
traditional mitral valve replacement by open surgery.
“Our
patient was out of options short of this procedure, which made being able to offer
it a life-saving solution,” said James Todd, MD, cardiovascular surgeon with
TidalHealth Cardiovascular Surgery. “It’s remarkable to see the rapid
improvement from where he was before the ViV TMVR procedure to where he is now
in his recovery.”
With ViV
TMVR technology, the structural heart team at TidalHealth actually places the
new valve inside the damaged one without taking it out of the body. Once it
reaches the heart, the new valve is positioned and opened inside the old one.
The expansion pushes the thin flaps of tissue, known as leaflets, from the
malfunctioning valve out of the way and allowing the leaflets of the new valve
to open and close properly, ensuring correct and sufficient blood flow.
How the
mitral valve gets there is what makes this such a beneficial option for
patients who qualify. A cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist work
together to deliver the valve through a vein in the groin. It’s threaded up
into the heart without opening the chest, eliminating the pain, discomfort and
risk of a regular open-heart operation.
Nationwide,
only about 600 ViV TMVR procedures are performed each year, making unique this
option locally. “Being the first on Delmarva to perform this procedure shows
the commitment of TidalHealth and the Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute
to bring innovative and the most up-to-date technology and treatment to our
patients,” said Steven Hearne, MD, interventional cardiologist and Executive
Medical Director of the TidalHealth Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute.
ViV TMVR
is not recommended for everyone with mitral valve disease. Consultation with a
cardiologist and cardiac surgeon can best determine a patient’s suitability for
the procedure.
To learn
more about cardiac procedures taking place at TidalHealth, visit
tidalhealth.org.
# # # # #
In the photo: Leading the clinical team
at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in performing the first ViV TMVR were, in the
front, Steven Hearne, MD, on the right, Stephen Wilson, PA-C and left, James
Todd, MD.
