The Houston Methodist West Hospital’s transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) team.
Houston Methodist West Hospital successfully performed its 100th transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure. This minimally invasive procedure is an alternative to open-heart surgery for patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the valve that obstructs blood flow and can lead to heart failure.
The milestone procedure was performed by cardiothoracic surgeon Javier Lafuente, M.D., and interventional cardiologist Tariq Dayah, M.D. on a 64-year-old patient. The same physicians successfully performed the hospital’s first TAVI procedure just two years ago.
“The hospital began offering TAVI only two years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Lafuente. “Treating so many patients during this timeframe shows that we’re meeting a real need within the community. This milestone is something to recognize and celebrate.”
The TAVI procedure eliminates the need for open heart surgery that comes with a traditional valve replacement. With TAVI, a physician accesses the aortic valve through the body via an artery, typically in the leg, and replaces it with a specially designed artificial valve. The procedure provides patients with less pain, faster recovery times and shorter hospital stays.
“Reaching 100 TAVI procedures so quickly is a significant achievement for Houston Methodist West,” Dr. Dayah said. “Our team is committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients. It’s immensely gratifying to know we’ve been able to improve their lives and see them resume their normal everyday activities.”
Patients of the Houston Methodist Valve Clinic at West have access to the hospital system’s clinical trials for a variety of heart valve therapies, expanding opportunities for new procedures and technologies close to home. To learn more about the Houston Methodist Valve Clinic at West, visit houstonmethodist.org/valve-clinic.