Lakeview Regional performs nonsurgical alternative to open-heart surgery

Lakeview Hospital , a campus of Tulane Medical Center, performs hundreds of heart procedures and surgeries each year, thanks to its structural heart program. The program focuses on the surgical treatment of patients with heart disease and other vascular conditions, including repairing or replacing damaged valves through less invasive, nonsurgical methods such as TAVR, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

The cardiologists at Lakeview Regional use the latest techniques to repair structural heart abnormalities and monitor long-term health after treatment. Structural heart conditions are problems that occur within the heart's tissues or valves. Drs. John Breaux and Hamid Salam recently completed two cases with great success.

Shirley, a 77-year-old woman, became the first patient at Lakeview Hospital to have the TAVR procedure performed through her neck due to poor femoral access, the usual TAVR route. After living an active lifestyle her entire life, Shirley was slowing down quickly. Her doctors discovered she had a bicuspid valve (congenital anomaly) and determined access through the carotid artery would be the best option for replacement. Shirley's procedure was a success, and she was discharged the next day. Today, she says she is doing much better, and her experience at Lakeview was amazing.

A second patient, John, an avid outdoorsman, was having difficulty getting up in the deer stand this year. His physician determined he would need a valve replacement and recommended Lakeview Regional. Drs. Breaux and Salam performed the TAVR through John's groin, and he was discharged the next day. John's procedure went perfectly, and he was extremely pleased with his Lakeview experience. John is already back to hunting and fishing this season.

The cardiologists at Lakeview Regional's Structural Heart Program are pioneers in cardiac care. They perform protected percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures using advanced pumping technology and minimally invasive bypass surgery. They work to advance care by leading innovative clinical trials and research projects and authoring peer-review publications. Using a team approach to heart care, patients are seen by highly skilled surgeons, cardiologists, electrophysiologists, nurses, and technicians who work together to develop the best treatment plan for each patient.

To find out if you are at risk for heart problems, take the free heart health assessment online at lakeviewregional.com. If you would like to learn more or have any questions please contact Gretchen Brower, TAVR coordinator at 985.867.4429.