Pictured from left to right:
Back - Konstantine Jegorov ST, Winston Wilson, RN Team Leader
Middle- Daryl Stepp, Medtronic; Dr. Shane Prejean; Brooke Morden ST; Ashley Lenoux ST; Stephen Dupuis RN; Tina Cockrell RN; Terika Boudreaux RN; Dr. Imtiaz Kahn.
Front- Ben Schuler RW; Cassandra Comadelle RN; Wyatt Stewart RT; Dr. Garland Green; Josh Jones RT; Jessica Sonnier, RN; Health Auzenne, Medtronic.

BATON ROUGE— Physicians at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) and Baton Rouge General Medical Center (BRG) performed the 100^th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure on April 21 at Baton Rouge General. CIS interventional cardiologists Dr. Garland Green and Dr. Shane Prejean, as well as Dr. Imtiaz Khan, cardiothoracic surgeon, worked together to perform the procedure.

The TAVR procedure treats severe aortic stenosis by using a catheter-based process to implant an artificial valve. The EVOLUT PRO+ system by Medtronic is designed to replace a patient’s diseased native aortic valve without the need for open-chest surgery and without stopping the patient’s heart. Therefore, the procedure is ideal for patients who are considered high-risk for open heart surgery.

Aortic stenosis occurs when aortic valves do not open properly, hindering the heart from pumping blood throughout the body. The aorta is a major blood vessel that travels from the left heart ventricle out to the body. If left untreated, the aortic valve weakens and the condition worsens over time, potentially leading to heart failure and increased risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Symptoms of aortic stenosis can be severe and include chest pain, fatigue, feeling faint, heart palpitations or heart murmur. Aortic stenosis weakens the heart and may eventually lead to heart failure.

During the procedure, the bio-prosthetic valve is guided by a catheter to the heart. After the valve is in the correct position, the catheter is retracted, allowing the newly implanted valve to take over the function of the native aortic valve. This valve replacement is performed in a hybrid operating room under general anesthesia. 

“We are thrilled to offer our patients better quality of life with procedures like TAVR,” said Dr. Green, CIS interventional cardiologist and Baton Rouge Medical Director. “You can trust CIS to continue bringing the latest, most advanced cardiovascular treatments to our patients.”

Click here learn more about structural heart procedures at CIS.  

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