Aspirus St. Luke’s Celebrates 500th TAVR Heart Procedure

Aspirus St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular Care – Duluth celebrated a major milestone recently: the completion of its 500th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) heart procedure. 

TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not candidates for traditional open-heart surgery. Aspirus St. Luke’s began offering the procedure nearly six years ago. 

“Reaching this milestone means our incredible team has helped 500 people with a very serious condition get the necessary care in a minimally invasive fashion to lead longer, healthier lives,” Aspirus St. Luke’s Cardiologist Dr. Scott Mikesell, FACC, FSCAI, said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to watch patients get back to their lives with less pain, faster recovery, and renewed energy.” 

TAVR is performed by a multidisciplinary team of cardiac experts, including interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists and imaging specialists. During the procedure, a catheter is inserted through a small incision in the groin or chest and guided to the heart using advanced imaging. The new valve is then expanded into place, replacing the narrowed aortic valve and improving blood flow. 

TAVR may be done for these reasons: 

• You are experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting spells, or heart failure. 

• Tests show that changes in your aortic valve are beginning to seriously harm how well your heart works. 

• You can't have regular valve surgery because it would put you at risk for complications. 

If you have questions or want to know if TAVR may be right for you, call Aspirus St. Luke’s Clinic Duluth - Cardiology at 218.249.3057. The procedure is also offered at Aspirus Wasau Hospital. Contact them at 715.847.2611.