First TAVR cases performed at VA
The VA Puget Sound TAVR program successfully launched on Monday, January 29 by the VA Cardiology and Cardiac surgery teams.
The VA TAVR team includes Drs. Lara Oyetunji, assistant professor (Cardiothoracic Surgery), Creighton Don, professor (Cardiology) and Vivek Arora, assistant professor (Anesthesiology).
Sidenote
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure to replace an aortic valve that is narrowed and doesn't open fully with a synthetic valve.
TAVR is a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart valve surgery, often resulting in shorter hospital stays and a quicker recovery time.
The TAVR team performed two TAVR procedures, and there was an overwhelmingly positive sentiment from the team.
One TAVR day is scheduled per month through April, with 3 procedures planned each day. The team anticipates a dedicated TAVR day each Friday come summer.