At Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC), we advance health care options
for our local communities, by providing specialized cardiac procedures
and treatments. Our board-certified cardiologists use state-of-the-art
technology to deliver personalized care that helps you recover faster
and live healthier.
Discover why patients trust us for comprehensive heart health.
Schedule your heart care appointment today and ask your physician which
treatment plan is right for you.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) for Aortic Stenosis
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, or TAVR, is a minimally invasive
procedure to replace diseased aortic valves without performing open heart
surgery. The aortic valve is a vital heart structure that tends to degenerate
and malfunction as patients age. The traditional way to replace the aortic
valve is through performing open heart surgery, a major procedure that
requires opening of the chest and stopping the heart, as well as, the
removal of the native disease. Recovery is typically long and painful.
TAVR, instead, delivers a new tissue aortic valve, mounted inside a catheter,
through a small puncture in the right femoral artery, without the need
to open the chest or stopping the heart. The procedure has been around
for nearly 10 years, and is continuously refined. Multiple clinical trials
have proven the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive aortic valve
replacement (TAVR) compared to open heart surgery and valve replacement.
TAVR is now considered the standard of care, as it has proven equivalence
and/or superior to surgical valve replacement. Patients who undergo TAVR
are typically discharged after an overnight stay in the hospital. This
procedure is available for people with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis
at low, intermediate or high risk for standard valve replacement surgery.
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Implant (LAAO, or also known as the Watchman
device) for Atrial Fibrillation
The Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Implant (LAAO) procedure is an effective
way to reduce stroke risk in patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac condition that the effects tens
of millions of people in the United States. Certain patients with atrial
fibrillation are prone to strokes and neurological damage. One way to
minimize the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation is to
use anti-coagulants such as Warfarin, Xarelto, Eliquis and Pradaxa. Although
these medications are effective at reducing the incidence of strokes,
they have their own serious side effects. They all can cause serious and
at times life-threatening bleeding.
Many patients cannot take anti-coagulants, and are therefore left with
unchecked stroke risk. The blood clots that lead to strokes in atrial
fibrillation patients develop in a particular portion of the heart, known
as the left atrial appendage. This is a recess in the left upper heart
chamber that, if closed, dramatically lowers the risk of strokes. Fortunately,
AVMC now has the technology to do that without performing open heart surgery.
The device used is known as left atrial appendage occlude (LAAO) or the
Watchman device. The device is inserted through a small incision in the right groin
and is a permanent implant. Patients who receive this device are only
hospitalized overnight. Once in place, there is no need for long-term
anti-coagulation with the associated lifelong risk of bleeding.
Mitral regurgitation (MR) occurs when the heart’s mitral valve does
not close properly, causing blood to leak backward into the left atrium.
This condition can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling, and,
if untreated, heart failure. MitraClip™ therapy offers a minimally
invasive, catheter-based solution to repair the mitral valve without open-heart surgery.
During the procedure, a small catheter is guided through a vein to the
heart, where the MitraClip™ device is attached to the mitral valve
to reduce backward blood flow. This approach typically results in a shorter
hospital stay, faster recovery, and improved quality of life.
TriClip™ Therapy for Tricuspid Valve Repair
TriClip™ therapy is a less invasive procedure designed to repair
the tricuspid valve and reduce tricuspid regurgitation (TR) without the
need for open-heart surgery. Using a catheter inserted through a vein
in the leg, doctors guide the TriClip™ device to the heart and attach
it to the tricuspid valve, helping it close more completely and restore
normal blood flow.
This approach offers significant benefits: less pain, a shorter hospital
stays, and faster recovery compared to traditional surgery. The TriClip™
implant is about the size of a dime, yet it can make a big difference
in improving heart function and quality of life. For patients who are
not candidates for surgery, TriClip™ provides a safe and effective
alternative.
Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR) Procedure with the EVOQUE™ System
The tricuspid valve helps control blood flow on the right side of the heart,
moving blood toward your lungs. When this valve becomes very leaky or
damaged, it can cause swelling, tiredness, and even heart failure. Transcatheter
Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR) is a modern treatment that replaces
the faulty valve without open-heart surgery.
Using the EVOQUE™ system, doctors insert a catheter through a vein
in the groin and guide it to the heart. Once in place, the new valve takes
over the job of the old one, helping blood flow normally again. The procedure
usually takes about two hours and often means less pain, a shorter hospital
stay, and a quicker recovery.
