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Structural Heart Program

Specialized cardiac care, close to
home

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OVERVIEW PROCEDURES
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Overview

Structural heart problems are quite common. Some conditions are mild and only need follow up care. Others are advanced and require cardiac testing and treatment.

Cookeville Regional Medical Center’s structural heart program is the only one of its kind in the Upper Cumberland with a team of interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and dedicated clinical support staff specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the valves and other vital structures of the heart. This new program expands the services offered through the Heart and Vascular Center, and thus, allows residents of the region to remain close to home for more specialized care.

Procedures performed at the Heart and Vascular Center

  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for severe aortic stenosis (narrowing) in patients who qualify. TAVR can help restore blood flow and reduce the signs and symptoms of aortic valve stenosis, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting and fatigue.
  • MitraClip, a simple, non-surgical option that your cardiologist may choose to perform for high-risk patients who need medical attention for two types of mitral regurgitation: Degenerative (primary) or functional (secondary) mitral regurgitation. During this procedure, doctors access the mitral valve with a thin tube (called a catheter) that is guided through a vein in your leg to reach your heart. A small implanted chip is attached to your mitral valve to help it close more completely. This helps restore normal blood flow through your heart. Unlike surgery, the MitraClip procedure does not require opening the chest and temporarily stopping the heart.
  • Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) (Watchman), a one-time procedure that is performed by an interventional cardiologist who makes a small cut in your upper leg and inserts a narrow tube, as done in a standard stent procedure. Your doctor then guides the Watchman device into the left atrial appendage (LAA) of your heart. This option is offered to patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) as an alternative to long-term warfarin (Coumadin) medication to reduce their risk of AF-related stroke. By closing off the LAA, the risk of stroke may be reduced and, over time, patients may be able to stop taking their blood thinner.
  • Patent forament ovale repair, a minimally invasive procedure to close the flap in the wall of the atrial septum. This closure is performed by an interventional cardiologist in a cardiac cath lab under fluoroscopic guidance and physiological monitoring. Patients undergoing this procedure will have a small incision in their upper leg and a narrow tube called a catheter inserted. A PFO closure device is moved through the vein to the heart, specifically the location of the heart wall defect. Once in the correct location, the closure device is formed so that it straddles each side of the hole. The device remains in the heart permanently to stop the abnormal flow of blood between the two atrial chambers of the heart.
  • Percutaneous perivalvular leak closure
  • Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV)
  • Atrial septal defect (ASD) closure
  • Traditional valve surgery

OUTPATIENT CARE

The Valve Clinic

The Valve Clinic is a part of the structural heart program for outpatient visits and follow up appointments.

Tennessee Heart
228 W. 4th St., Cookeville, TN
931-646-4093