Aortic Aneurysm
Stent

NEVADA HEART AND VASCULAR CENTER CARDIOLOGISTS PARTICIPATE IN  TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE IMPACT

Nevada Heart and Vascular Centers’ Board Certified Interventional Cardiologists Branavan Umakanthan D.O., F.A.C.C,. F.S.C.A.I., and Rafael Valencia M.D., F.A.C.C., participated in the first SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) implantation. It was the first percutaneous as well as the first Edwards SAPIEN 3 THV implanted in Southern Nevada. The surgery was performed at The Heart Center at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.

The SAPIEN 3 THV is approved for patients who are inoperable or at high risk for death or complications due to open-heart surgery. This is good for patients with a narrowing in the heart’s aortic value, called aortic valve stenosis. The valve design also has changed which has led to infrequent leakage through and around the heart value. The SAPIEN 3 THV can assist with correcting the blood flow problem associated with aortic stenosis in patients who need open -heart surgery to replace the diseased value or those considered by their doctors to be at high risk.

The new valve design uses a smaller sheath so the hole in the artery is smaller and does not need the surgeon to make an incision in the femoral artery. In result, the SAPIEN 3 has reduced the procedure and recovery time. Patients are usually hospitalized for about seven days. Due to the SAPIEN 3, the patient was discharged the next day.

Known as the “silent killer,” abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) affect an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States.  This condition creates a bulge that weakens the aorta.  Early detection is key in preventing rupture or even death.

To learn more about this procedure please contact our office to schedule a consultation.