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Heart procedure marks milestone at Lexington Medical

Staff Report //September 20, 2019//

Heart procedure marks milestone at Lexington Medical

Staff Report //September 20, 2019//

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Doctors at Lexington Medical Center reached a state milestone, performing a first-of-its-kind heart valve replacement this month.

The first Lotus Edge aortic valve system implanted in South Carolina provides the newest technology for patients with severe aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve opening that can restrict blood flow to and from the heart.

The system is implanted through transcatheter aortic valve replacement, in which doctors replace the aortic valve with a catheter instead of performing open-heart surgery, according to a news release from Lexington Medical Center. The artificial valve is compressed into a catheter that travels through a large blood vessel to the diseased aortic valve. When the artificial valve is deployed over the patient’s valve, it begins functioning immediately, restoring normal blood flow.

“The Lotus Edge is the newest FDA-approved aortic valve replacement. It has several advantages over other valves in terms of safety and effectiveness,” said Dr. Robert A. Leonardi of Lexington Cardiology. “We’re excited to be the first in South Carolina to offer this technology to our patients.”

The artificial valve also has a seal that has been proven to reduce blood leakage, according to the release.

“This milestone showcases the incredible benefit of a truly integrated heart valve team,” said Dr. Jeffrey A. Travis, heart surgeon at Lexington Cardiovascular Surgery. “It benefits the patients to have cardiologists and surgeons working together.”

Leonardi and Travis performed the procedure at the cardiac catherization lab at Lexington Medical Center, which instituted its comprehensive cardiovascular program, affiliated with Duke Health, in 2012.

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