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3 Less-Invasive Heart Procedures

to Treat Your Ticker

Did you know your heart beats over 100,000 times per day?

Your heart does more physical work than any other muscle in your body. The heart is an impressive, complex system that works hard to keep us alive and moving. However, sometimes our heart can become tired, slow, or even diseased from various factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, or family history.

When your heart is showing signs of distress or you have been diagnosed with certain conditions, it may be time to talk with your doctor about your options to help repair it. If your mind went straight to open-heart surgery when you read that, take heart! While open-heart surgery is an important option and one that many patients qualify for, it may not be right for you. There are other preventative, potentially lifesaving, less-invasive procedures that our cardiologists at Lakeland Regional Health can offer if you are eligible. 

Read on to hear Dr. Avinash Khanna, one of our very own cardiologists and the Director of our Harrell Heart Center, discuss three advanced heart procedures we offer at Lakeland Regional Health, where our expert heart care is a beat away!

As a cardiologist, I treat everyone with extreme care and individuality…especially when we are entrusted with such crucial health concerns of the heart.

- Avinash Khanna, MD
Interventional Cardiology
The WATCHMAN® device.

Dr. Khanna Explains — The Watchman

According to the CDC, 1 in 6 deaths from cardiovascular disease was due to stroke in 2022.

AFib, or Atrial Fibrillation, increases someone’s risk for stroke due to an irregular heartbeat. This causes blood to form and clot in the upper chambers, most commonly the Left Atrial Appendage. If these clots escape, they can lead to a stroke. Patients who have AFib are typically on various types of blood thinners. These blood thinners will reduce the risk of clots leading to stroke, but they can cause a myriad of other concerns such as severe bruising and excessive bleeding. The Watchman procedure can help reduce the risk of stroke and eliminate the need for blood thinners for AFib patients.

  • What is it? The Watchman is a small implant designed to trap blood clots by closing off the Left Atrial Appendage (LAAA). This significantly reduces the risk of clots escaping and causing a stroke.
  • Who is it for? The Watchman procedure is designed for AFib patients who are not candidates for open-heart surgery and should come off blood thinners completely. Always consult with your doctor to see if you are a candidate.
  • What is the procedure like? This is a much less invasive surgery than open heart surgery. As you are under general anesthesia, we will make a small incision in your upper right leg and insert a small tube in the femoral vein to guide the Watchman to the Left Atrial Appendage. We then close the LAA with the Watchman.
  • How long does the procedure take? Only 30–60 minutes.
  • How long is recovery? Very quick; typically, only one day in the hospital, and then you can resume your regular activities.

Dr. Khanna Explains —
TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement)

According to the American Heart Association, more than 13 percent of mature Americans (75+) have aortic valve stenosis.

This means that over time, calcium builds up around the aortic valve (which is responsible for pushing blood out to our body). This buildup narrows and thickens the valve, restricting the blood flow. This is the most common and serious heart valve disease. The TAVR procedure can help treat aortic stenosis.

  • What is it? A TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) replaces the diseased valve, allowing the blood to flow properly throughout the body and allowing you to resume living a healthier life.
  • Who is it for? The TAVR procedure is for patients who have a diseased aortic valve, known as aortic valve stenosis. It is typically the first option to treat anyone above the age of 60, and those patients who are not good candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). These patients experience shortness of breath, chest pain, or even passing out.
  • What is the procedure like? Similar to the Watchman procedure, the TAVR procedure is much less invasive than open-heart surgery. Under local anesthesia and some sedation, a small incision is made in your upper right leg, and a catheter deploys the new valve within the old valve to open it and allow improved blood flow.
  • How long does the procedure take? Only 30–60 minutes.
  • How long is recovery? Most patients are discharged in just 2 days or fewer.

Dr. Khanna Explains — Mitral Clip

Your heart has four valves that each play a role in allowing blood to flow throughout your body: the aortic valve, pulmonary valve, tricuspid valve, and mitral valve.

When one or more of those valves are diseased or leaking, it can cause serious risks to your health. However, there are certain treatments that can help with leaky valves, such as Mitral Clips, to decrease hospitalization. It is important to note that the mitral valve is not being replaced with this procedure.

  • What is it? Patients who have leaky mitral valves will experience mitral valve regurgitation. This blood will leak backward through the mitral valve each time the left ventricle contracts. This can cause blood to go into your lungs. Symptoms of a leaky valve may include shortness of breath, swelling, coughing, and more. To help decrease this leak, the Mitral Clip is a small, implanted clip that attaches to your mitral valve leaflets. This helps it close more completely and restore normal blood flow through your heart.
  • Who is it for? This procedure is meant for patients who are not candidates for open-heart surgery and have been properly diagnosed with a leaky mitral valve.
  • What is the procedure like? Similar to the previously mentioned procedures, a small incision is made in the upper right leg, and a tube is placed in the femoral vein. With ultrasound guidance, the clips are delivered and deployed into their proper position on the leaflets of the mitral valve.
  • How long does the procedure take? Approximately 60–90 minutes.
  • How long is recovery? Most patients will go home the next day.

At Lakeland Regional Health, we place people at the heart of all we do. We have been the pioneers of heart health in Polk County for more than 30 years, and we are dedicated to continuously setting the standard when it comes to caring for your heart. You can be confident that our board-certified, highly experienced cardiologists, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons, electrophysiologists, anesthesiologists, and specialty-trained cardiac nurses, along with other multidisciplinary heart specialists are committed to you every step of the way. We will give you the best care in a safe, advanced, and compassionate environment.

Learn more about how we care for your heart health. →

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