(BRIGHTON, MA) – St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center’s Cardiovascular program has achieved a historic milestone: the 1,000th minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure. The milestone procedure took place on July 23.

“Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been one of several crowning achievements of the cardiovascular program at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in the past 15 years,” said Joseph Carrozza, MD, Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine. “It is the epitome of multidisciplinary teamwork. We consider a privilege to have been part of this groundbreaking program from its earliest days until present.”

St. Elizabeth’s began offering the TAVR procedure in 2012 and had the COVID-19 pandemic not occurred, the 1,000th patient to under the minimally invasive procedure would have taken place sooner. Aortic stenosis is a condition that results from narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart. When this narrowing, it can put increased stress and pressure on the heart muscle. This can lead to many symptoms, including chest discomfort or pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling, fatigue, or fainting. Left untreated, the heart muscle can weaken over time resulting in worsening of symptoms and premature death.

The aortic valve is located between the pumping chamber on the left side of the heart and the aorta, which is a major artery. The aorta carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The valve should be closed when the heart is filling with blood. When the heart chamber squeezes to push blood into the aorta, the valve should be fully open to allow blood flow. The TAVR procedure replaces the native aortic valve through percutaneous catheter delivery rather than traditional open-heart surgery.

“For some patients who were too high sick for surgical valve replacement, TAVR offers life-saving treatment that in the past was not available,” Carrozza said. “For lower risk patients, TAVR offers outcomes similar to surgery with shorter length of stay in the hospital, and more rapid return to work and regular routines.”

A 13-person clinical team conducted the TAVR procedure. The TAVR program at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, a tertiary academic teaching hospital, draws patients from Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts as well as many hospitals and providers outside of the Steward network.

“I am proud of the care our Cardiovascular team provides in support of our community and our patients,” said St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center President Paul C. Smith. “The success of our TAVR program and the outcomes that have achieved for our patients are a credit to Dr. Carrozza’s leadership and the multidisciplinary team he has built.”  

About St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center 
Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center of Boston, Inc., a Boston University Teaching Hospital, offers patients access to some of Boston's most respected physicians and advanced treatments for a full range of medical specialties, including family medicine, cardiovascular care, women and infants' health, cancer care, neurology care, and orthopedics. The 306-bed tertiary care facility is part of Steward Health Care. For more information, visit www.semc.org.

About Steward Health Care 
Over a decade ago, Steward Health Care System emerged as a different kind of health care company designed to usher in a new era of wellness. One that provides our patients better, more proactive care at a sustainable cost, our providers unrivaled coordination of care, and our communities greater prosperity and stability.

As the country’s largest physician-led, minority-owned, integrated health care system, our doctors can be certain that we share their interests and those of their patients. Together we are on a mission to revolutionize the way health care is delivered - creating healthier lives, thriving communities and a better world.