The Get Marty: UPMC Spotlight is produced with the generous support of UPMC. Life Changing Medicine.
This week we're putting a spotlight on some amazing advances going on in UPMC's Cardiology Department. Not too long ago doctors had to crack your chest open to perform lifesaving surgeries like a heart valve replacement. Open heart surgery can be dangerous and has some serious risks.
Today, new techniques and advances in technology have minimized the risk with something they call TAVR (tah-vur).
Watch the video on this page to see my discussion with Lisa Henry. She's a Nurse Practitioner in UPMC's Cardiology Department and she's explaining what the procedure is and how it saves lives.
From UPMC.com:
Signs and Symptoms of Aortic Valve Disease
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or tightness
- Dizziness
- Fainting, especially after exercise or with exertion
- Leg swelling
- Fatigue
UPMC has established its Center for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Therapy where they specialize in the latest treatment options like TAVR which is used for a condition called aortic stenosis and to replace failing valves from previous open-heart surgeries. In the last decade, UPMC doctors have performed more than two thousand TAVR procedures.
More resources:
UPMC: What is TAVR?
Contact the UPMC Center for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Therapy
To schedule an appointment: Call us at 412-647-1621, Request an appointment
The Get Marty: UPMC Spotlight is produced with the generous support of UPMC. Life Changing Medicine.
