CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – UVA Health’s Heart and Vascular Center is pioneering a new method for heart valve replacement that offers a less invasive solution for patients.
This innovative procedure aims to replace leaking heart valves without the need for open-heart surgery. “Many patients previously had no options, but now we can reach them more frequently and help restore their quality of life,” said Dr. John Saxon, an interventional cardiologist at UVA Health.
The new technique specifically targets the tricuspid valve, allowing doctors to fix it using a catheter rather than traditional surgery. “Open-heart surgeries to repair the tricuspid valve can be risky and challenging for recovery,” Dr. Saxon explained.
The procedure involves inserting a new valve through a catheter, positioning it with ultrasound and X-ray guidance, and placing it inside the existing valve. This minimally invasive approach reduces strain on the patient’s body, requiring only an overnight hospital stay, with most patients recovering within a week. “Patients tend to recover faster because we do not need to stop the heart during the procedure,” Dr. Saxon added.
So far, UVA Health has successfully performed five of these new procedures, marking a significant advancement in cardiac care.
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