“To be recognized by the ACC is a great honor,” said Adam Saltzman, MD, Medical Director of the Structural Heart Disease Program at Southcoast Health Heart and Vascular. “Southcoast Health is unique because these complex procedures are usually performed at large academic medical centers, and we’re doing it at the community level. I am very proud of our team and how our program has evolved and strengthened over the last 10 years.”

Over the last decade, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedures at Southcoast Health have increased to approximately 300 cases a year. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that offers treatment for severe aortic stenosis, a progressive disease that prevents the aortic valve from functioning properly.

“We’ve witnessed remarkable transformation and advancements in cardiovascular care over the past decade. Previously, open-heart surgery was the sole option for treating patients with aortic valve issues,” said Iraklis Gerogiannis, MD, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Southcoast Health. “TAVR has dramatically changed the way in which we can treat our patients, providing an alternative option to open-heart surgery and expanding treatment options to high-risk patients for whom open-heart surgery is not recommended.”   

These procedures involve a multi-disciplinary team of cardiac surgeons, cardiac echo sonographers and structural heart providers who coordinate the needs of each individual patient before, during and after their surgery.  

“Earning this certification was very much a team effort and a testament to the high quality of care we provide,” said Christopher Abadi, MD, Medical Director of Echocardiography Services at Southcoast Heart and Vascular. “We have an amazing group of dedicated physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, cardiac sonographers and additional support staff who all play an important role in the success of the procedures. Our outcomes are fantastic and have been life changing for so many of the patients we serve.”

The ACC’s Transcatheter Valve Certification is an external review and certification process that pairs with established national clinical databases to monitor patient safety and real-world outcomes related to transcatheter valve therapies. Participation in established national clinical databases such as the STS/ACC TVT Registry is required for hospitals interested in achieving Transcatheter Valve Certification.

Recovery time after a transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure can vary, but the procedure typically allows patients to return home in a day or two with a one-week recovery period.

“In the 11 years that we have been performing this life saving procedure, we have noted a significant improvement in patient outcomes and quality of life. With this advancement, patients, many of whom are older adults who previously would not have been surgical candidates, are now able to continue living an active lifestyle,” said Peter Cohn, MD, Physician-in-Chief of Cardiovascular Care. “It’s a huge benefit to the community and we are proud to be offering advanced cardiac care to patients in our region, right in their own backyard.”

At Southcoast Health, TAVR services are led by an expert team including Adam Saltzman, MD, Albert Lin, MD, Benjamin Zorach, MD, Christopher Abadi, MD, Iraklis Gerogiannis, MD,  Jacob Kriegel, MD, Peter Cohn, MD,  Peter Lee, MD, PhD, and Robert Vazquez, MD.

To learn more about Southcoast Health’s Heart & Vascular services please visit Cardiovascular Heart Services MA & RI | Southcoast Health.