Cardiac experts at Memorial's Sarvanand Heart and Brain Center announced the outcome of Kern County's first Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement procedure on Monday, November 21.

 

TAVR is a minimally-invasive surgery where a damaged aortic valve is replaced through the use of a catheter inserted into an artery in the leg, neck or chest and delivered and implanted in the heart. Catheterization saves the patient from having to endure the rigors of open heart bypass surgery.

 

Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in the region performing TAVR, and one of less than 500 hospitals in the United States certified to perform TAVR.