In 2024 just before moving from Arizona to Illinois, Rudolph Phillips noticed a change in his endurance. “I was feeling some moderate symptoms, and when we got here, one of the first things I did was get an echocardiogram at Carle BroMenn Medical Center,” Phillips said. Later, Phillips received a second echocardiogram with Veterans Affairs. “They called me and said I should get a second opinion with my Carle doctor.”
These echocardiograms revealed that Phillips had severe aortic stenosis, a buildup in the aortic valve that prevents blood flow from the heart to the body. This condition can result in an irregular heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and in some cases, death.
After his diagnosis, Phillips was referred to Issam D. Moussa, MD, MBA, medical director at the Carle Heart & Vascular Institute and Professor of Medicine & Bioengineering at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
In many cases, addressing this condition requires open heart surgery, but this was considered a high-risk surgery for Phillips due to his age. So, Dr. Moussa proposed an alternative treatment, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
TAVR is an alternative treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not good candidates for open heart surgery. During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into the body through a small incision in the thigh. The catheter is guided to the aorta and expands to replace the damaged valve.
Before TAVR, many patients did not receive treatment because they were too high risk for surgery. “TAVR is preferable in patients over the age of 75,” said Dr. Moussa. “And it needs to be discussed on a case-by-case basis between the ages of 65 and 75.”
After listening to his options, Phillips agreed to move forward with the TAVR procedure. “At that point, I expressed I’d rather have TAVR than open heart surgery,” said Phillips.
The Heart and Vascular Institute is one of only a few providers offering this innovative procedure in central Illinois. Using a team approach to treatment, TAVR patients receive expertise from several heart disciplines. This team is composed of interventional cardiologists, echocardiographers, open heart surgeons, anesthesiologists, and highly trained members of the Cath Lab team.
Carle Health is also home to a very well-established structural heart disease program that delivers alternative treatment options for patients who are not candidates for surgery due to various risk factors.
Beyond TAVR for aortic valve stenosis, the program offers:
“I remember going into the OR [operating room] and these folks were working like clockwork,” Phillips said. “It was 8:15 a.m. or 8:20 a.m. Next thing I knew, I’m back in my room and in walks Dr. Moussa.” Phillips was back in his room with his family after treatment by 8:50 a.m. “My wife, my brother-in-law and his wife, they were all shocked that it was done so quickly. He had a smile, and I had a smile, we shook hands, and he said everything went well.”
Dr. Moussa was not surprised that this treatment was so effective for Phillips.
“TAVR has become, when done in experienced centers, a safe and highly successful procedure with success rates approaching 98 percent without major complications” said Dr. Moussa. “Based on this, I do expect a good outcome in the majority of patients we chose to do TAVR on.”
For Phillips, the TAVR treatment allowed him to quickly recover and return to his home in Bloomington. "Afterwards, all the people who came in and spoke to me and my wife that day and a half we were there, I’m not sure there’s enough accolades to thank all the people doing those things and that feeling,” he said.
Recovery time for the TAVR procedure is typically three days or less, much shorter than hospital stays for open heart surgery. And because it’s minimally invasive, there is also less scarring.
“We typically follow up on patients one month and one year after the procedure with echocardiograms to ensure proper valve function,” Dr. Moussa said. “Patients also follow up with their primary care team as usual.”
Phillips continues to participate in Cardiac Rehab and is regaining his strength.
“I’m forever grateful,” Phillips said. “And all I can say is I thank God and the people who do these wonderful things, and that’s how I feel.”
For more information about the TAVR treatment and other innovative treatments available at Carle Health, visit Carle.org.
These echocardiograms revealed that Phillips had severe aortic stenosis, a buildup in the aortic valve that prevents blood flow from the heart to the body. This condition can result in an irregular heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and in some cases, death.
After his diagnosis, Phillips was referred to Issam D. Moussa, MD, MBA, medical director at the Carle Heart & Vascular Institute and Professor of Medicine & Bioengineering at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.In many cases, addressing this condition requires open heart surgery, but this was considered a high-risk surgery for Phillips due to his age. So, Dr. Moussa proposed an alternative treatment, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
TAVR is an alternative treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not good candidates for open heart surgery. During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into the body through a small incision in the thigh. The catheter is guided to the aorta and expands to replace the damaged valve.
Before TAVR, many patients did not receive treatment because they were too high risk for surgery. “TAVR is preferable in patients over the age of 75,” said Dr. Moussa. “And it needs to be discussed on a case-by-case basis between the ages of 65 and 75.”
After listening to his options, Phillips agreed to move forward with the TAVR procedure. “At that point, I expressed I’d rather have TAVR than open heart surgery,” said Phillips.
The Heart and Vascular Institute is one of only a few providers offering this innovative procedure in central Illinois. Using a team approach to treatment, TAVR patients receive expertise from several heart disciplines. This team is composed of interventional cardiologists, echocardiographers, open heart surgeons, anesthesiologists, and highly trained members of the Cath Lab team.
Carle Health is also home to a very well-established structural heart disease program that delivers alternative treatment options for patients who are not candidates for surgery due to various risk factors.
Beyond TAVR for aortic valve stenosis, the program offers:
- The MitraClip procedure for patients with severe leakage in the mitral valve
- The TriClip procedure for patients with severe leakage in the tricuspid valve
- Left atrial appendage closure for atrial fibrillation in patients who cannot tolerate blood thinners
- Transcatheter closure of PFO (patent foramen oval) in young patients at risk for stroke due to this condition
“I remember going into the OR [operating room] and these folks were working like clockwork,” Phillips said. “It was 8:15 a.m. or 8:20 a.m. Next thing I knew, I’m back in my room and in walks Dr. Moussa.” Phillips was back in his room with his family after treatment by 8:50 a.m. “My wife, my brother-in-law and his wife, they were all shocked that it was done so quickly. He had a smile, and I had a smile, we shook hands, and he said everything went well.”Dr. Moussa was not surprised that this treatment was so effective for Phillips.
“TAVR has become, when done in experienced centers, a safe and highly successful procedure with success rates approaching 98 percent without major complications” said Dr. Moussa. “Based on this, I do expect a good outcome in the majority of patients we chose to do TAVR on.”
For Phillips, the TAVR treatment allowed him to quickly recover and return to his home in Bloomington. "Afterwards, all the people who came in and spoke to me and my wife that day and a half we were there, I’m not sure there’s enough accolades to thank all the people doing those things and that feeling,” he said.
Recovery time for the TAVR procedure is typically three days or less, much shorter than hospital stays for open heart surgery. And because it’s minimally invasive, there is also less scarring.
“We typically follow up on patients one month and one year after the procedure with echocardiograms to ensure proper valve function,” Dr. Moussa said. “Patients also follow up with their primary care team as usual.”
Phillips continues to participate in Cardiac Rehab and is regaining his strength.
“I’m forever grateful,” Phillips said. “And all I can say is I thank God and the people who do these wonderful things, and that’s how I feel.”
For more information about the TAVR treatment and other innovative treatments available at Carle Health, visit Carle.org.
Categories: Redefining Healthcare
Tags: and, Aortic, Cardiology, Cardiovascular, Heart, Institute, Replacement, Surgery, TAVR, Transcatheter, Valve, Vascular