Beebe offering alternative to open heart surgery in Sussex County for the first time

LEWES, Del. – Beebe is offering an alternative to open heart surgery for the first time in Sussex County. “The TAVR actually allows us to replace or take over the work of the aortic valve through a minimally invasive approach instead of actually opening the patient’s chest up and taking the valve out,” said Executive Director of Cardiac and Vascular Services Mary Frances Suter.

The Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement – or TAVR – procedure allows doctors to send a device that helps regulate and increase blood flow through a tube in your groin to your heart’s valves. “When patients have something called aortic stenosis, the last door in their heart is actually stuck. So instead of the blood being able to go from one room, through the door, into the body, it actually gets stuck behind in the room,” said Suter.

The procedure was previously used for patients at high risk who could not have surgery. But Beebe says now it’s been approved for lower risk patients. “The patients go home the following day – within 24 hours – and they have no restrictions. We had one patient who wasn’t able to walk to his mailbox when he came in on Sunday. On Tuesday morning he was lapping his block,” said Suter.

Suter says having this procedure available in patients’ own backyard opens up opportunities for better healthcare locally. “You used to have to travel outside of Sussex County to get this procedure done and now you don’t. You can stay home. Your family can drop you off in the morning and come get you the next day and bring you home. So, that’s a beautiful thing for the patients,” said Suter.

Suter says that Beebe is looking at improving mitral valve replacement next – which is another valve in the heart that can experience blockage. She says that it’s important to make sure local patients have all the options possible at their fingertips.