[January 23, 2015]

MemorialCare Health System Offers Latest Minimally Invasive Approach for Severe Heart Valve Disease

Doctors at the MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute have instituted an alternative treatment for patients who are not candidates for traditional open heart surgery. The Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Program allows for specialized cardiovascular physicians and interventionalists to perform complex, curative procedures that are minimally invasive for patients with heart valve disease, who cannot undergo open heart surgery.

Unlike open heart surgery where the chest is opened, TAVR is conducted by threading a catheter through a small opening in the groin up through the femoral artery up to the aortic valve. This method allows patients a faster recovery time.

"This procedure is much less invasive than a surgical approach," said Dr. Rex Winters, medical director, invasive cardiology, MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute, Long Beach Memorial. "The TAVR approach affords high-risk patients with shorter hospital stays which gets them back to their daily routines faster."

Patients treated at any of the hospitals in the Memorial Care Health System will have the option to use the TAVR Program at Long Beach Memorial. Access TAVR allows patients to conduct their consultations locally at any of MemorialCare Health System's affiliated hospitals, including Orange (News - Alert) Coast Memorial and Saddleback Memorial, and have an interconnected team of physicians review the results with the patient before passing their information along to the TAVR care team at Long Beach Memorial.

"It's important to us that our patients have access to care in their local communities with local doctors they trust," said Tammie Brailsford, COO, MemorialCare Health Syste. "Access TAVR ensures that all patients in our network have the same exemplary level of care no matter where they live."

Gene Pritchard, from San Clemente, was a healthy male until the age of 84 when a recurring stenosis blockage began to impact his daily life. Mr. Pritchard soon learned from his local cardiologist that his age and condition posed serious risks for traditional open heart surgery. He was referred to the TAVR Program at Long Beach Memorial and met with the team earlier in the year. In Aug. 2014, Mr. Pritchard opted to undergo the TAVR procedure with Dr. Winters, Dr. Daniel Bethencourt and Dr. Steven Gault, which turned out to be a huge success. Following the procedure, Mr. Pritchard was back on his feet within a week.

"When I came out of the anesthesia from my procedure, I could tell from my breathing that I was a different person," said Mr. Pritchard. "The care team at Long Beach Memorial was incredibly supportive during the entire procedure and I haven't had a problem following-up with any doctor in the MemorialCare Health System in the months after. I couldn't recommend the procedure more and I'm feeling better than ever!"

There are 1.5 million people in the United States who suffer from aortic valve stenosis. Approximately 250,000 of them have symptoms that are severe. Aortic valve stenosis is a potentially life threatening condition if not treated. Preparation and training for the TAVR Program at Long Beach Memorial began in 2012 through a partnership with Good Samaritan Hospital.

Through Access TAVR, follow-ups and consultations following the patient's TAVR procedure at Long Beach Memorial can take place with the patient's local physician in the network close to home.

To learn more about the TAVR Program at Long Beach Memorial, visit the MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute website at http://www.memorialcare.org/services/heart-vascular-care/heart-vascular-care-long-beach-memorial.

About MemorialCare Health System

MemorialCare Health System is a nonprofit, integrated delivery system that includes six top hospitals - Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach, Community Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial in Fountain Valley, and Saddleback Memorial in Laguna Hills and San Clemente; a medical group - MemorialCare Medical Group; an Independent Practice Association (IPA) - Greater Newport Physicians; ambulatory surgery centers and numerous outpatient health centers throughout the Southland. For more information, go to MemorialCare.org.

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