New Technology to Aid in the Treatment of Severe Aortic Stenosis

Princeton Cardiologists Perform First New Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Procedure in Alabama with Self-Expanding Implant with Advanced Sealing

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – April 12, 2017 – The Structural Heart Program at Princeton Baptist Medical Center became the first center in the southeast area of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and the panhandle of Florida to implant the newly FDA approved CoreValve™ Evolut™ PRO TAVR for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis for symptomatic patients who are at high or extreme risk for open heart surgery. Recently unveiled clinical data showed high survival, low rates of stroke, minimal paravalvular leak (PVL) and excellent hemodynamics for the self-expanding valve.

Aortic stenosis is a common and serious condition that occurs when the heart’s aortic valve narrows, restricting blood flow from the heart to the aorta, which can severely weaken the heart muscle. If left untreated, it can lead to heart failure and even death. Mustafa Ahmed, MD, Director of the Structural Heart Disease Program at Princeton Baptist Medical Center, Clifton Lewis, MD, cardiac surgeon at Princeton, and their team have performed several hundred cases involving TAVR .   

“One of our strongest areas of expertise is treating patients with aortic stenosis who likely could not undergo open-heart surgery. We have performed several hundred TAVR procedures,” says Dr. Ahmed. “As established leaders in the field of cardiac surgery and advancing the field through research and the use of cutting-edge technology, we continue to strive to advance new minimally invasive treatments for our patients and surrounding communities.”

The Evolut PRO device features a unique valve design with an outer wrap that adds surface area contact between the valve and the native aortic annulus to further advance valve sealing performance. The biocompatible porcine pericardial tissue wrap, in addition to other design elements, is incorporated to address the occurrence of blood leaking through the sides of the valve. It is both recapturable and repositionable, so accuracy in placement and control during the procedure is increased.

The Evolut PRO System is delivered through the EnVeo™ R Delivery Catheter System and is indicated for vessels down to 5.5 mm. The EnVeo R system features an InLine Sheath that makes it the lowest delivery platform currently on the market. It also provides a greater opportunity to treat patients with smaller vessels through the preferred transfemoral access route.

About Brookwood Baptist Health
With roots extending more than 90 years, Brookwood Baptist Health includes trusted providers from the former Brookwood Medical Center and Baptist Health System and is operated by Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp.  Representing the largest healthcare network in Central Alabama, the network’s community of care is comprised of five acute care hospitals with more than 1,700 licensed beds: Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, Princeton Baptist Medical Center, Shelby Baptist Medical Center, Walker Baptist Medical Center and Citizens Baptist Medical Center. Brookwood Baptist Health also provides patients with the largest primary care network in the state, along with physician practices, diagnostic and outpatient surgery centers and a freestanding emergency department. Brookwood Baptist Health is united in service and devotion to the people of Central Alabama and dedicated to putting people back at the center of healthcare.  For more information, please visit BrookwoodBaptistHealth.com.