CARDIOLOGY NEWS
Ramsay sites reach new cardiac milestones A local 83-year-old woman has become the first patient to
undergo the new minimally-invasive procedure at SCUPH.
Interventional Cardiologist Dr Peter Larsen said: “It is keyhole
surgery using the latest technology, performed by our Heart
Team. The surgery allows patients to avoid the need for lengthy
operations and the prolonged stay in hospital afterwards.”
Dr Larsen’s patient, Mrs Norma Wilson, had been experiencing
severe aortic stenosis, which is the narrowing of the aortic
valve opening, causing breathlessness. Due to her age she was
considered a high risk for surgery.
“Instead she was brought to the cardiac catheter operating
room and we were able to perform a TAVI, and she went home
the next day,” Dr Larsen said.
Over the last 18 months, the hospital has been working to
develop a new ‘Heart Team’ to deliver the new procedure made
up of interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, vascular
surgeons, an anaesthesiologist, geriatrician, TAVI coordinator
and radiologists.
The Heart Team has undergone rigorous training and
accreditation, to ensure local patients would receive optimal
treatment when undergoing TAVI.
The availability of the treatment represents a major win for
Sunshine Coast patients who were previously required to travel
to Brisbane or interstate for treatment, often with significant
out-of-pocket expense.
Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital CEO, Oliver Steele
said: “It is quite ground breaking for the region, that patients
can get this treatment close to home rather than having to
travel more than an hour.”
Stroke prevention device arrives at North Shore Private Hospital
North Shore Private was the second hospital in Australia to use a stroke prevention device called the Sentinel Cerebral Protection System (Sentinel CPS)
during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
During a TAVI procedure, embolic debris such as calcium
or tissue can break loose, travel through the bloodstream
towards the brain and potentially cause neurological and
neurocognitive damage, such as stroke.
Sentinel CPS is used to filter, capture and remove this debris
or tissue. The system is percutaneously delivered with an
embolic filter to the brachiocephalic artery, and a second
embolic filter delivered to the left common carotid artery.
At the completion of the procedure, the filters and debris are
recaptured into the catheter and removed from the patient.
10 The Ramsay Way 2019 | 03
Professor Ravinay Bhindi and Dr Peter Hansen completed
the first procedure using the Sentinel CPS at North Shore
Private Hospital.
Clinical evidence from the SENTINEL IDE trial (presented
at the SENTINEL FDA Advisory Panel in 2017) found
a stroke reduction of approximately 40 per cent at
30 days but underpowered for significance at 30 days;
a reduction in peri-procedural ‘all stroke’ to day three;
and about 99 per cent debris capture and retrieval
verified by an independent core-lab.
About aortic stenosis
Aortic stenosis is the thickening and stiffening of the aortic valve, which plays a crucial role
in controlling the flow of blood in and out of the heart. Aortic stenosis is the most common
valvular heart disease in the world, affecting approximately 7 per cent of all people aged
over 65 years.
About TAVI
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a minimally-invasive alternative to open
heart surgery to replace a patient’s aortic valve. The procedure, which typically takes under
an hour, allows surgeons to implant an artificial valve into the heart using a catheter, which is
inserted through a small incision in the groin.
Sunshine Coast patients
access TAVI locally for
first time
Sunshine Coast residents no longer need to travel
beyond the coast to receive potentially life-changing
heart treatment, with transcatheter aortic valve
implantation (TAVI) now offered at Sunshine Coast
University Private Hospital (SCUPH).