On May 2, the Valve and Structural Heart Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute (OHI) celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in Tulsa.
TAVR is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with narrowing of the aortic valve. When untreated, aortic stenosis results in disabling heart failure symptoms and shortened lifespan. Compared to open heart surgery, multiple studies have shown TAVR is more effective and safer, with lower risk of death, stroke and bleeding, as well as shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to normal lifestyle and function.
This procedure is pivotal in advancing the treatment of severe aortic stenosis and has seen many advancements in 10 years. TAVR was made possible by the leadership and dedication of director Kamran Muhammad, M.D., and the entire structural heart program at OHI.
“It has been an amazing journey to start and lead the OHI structural heart and TAVR program for the last 10 years,” Muhammad said. “From performing the first TAVR in Tulsa on May 2, 2012, to now completing almost 1,000 TAVRs. In addition, OHI's program has had many other firsts in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and even the world, to now being involved in nine major clinical trials bringing new technologies and techniques for non-surgical valve replacement and repair, it has been a truly rewarding experience. Most of all, I am deeply humbled and grateful to the patients that have trusted me with their care. I look forward to the next 10 years and the breakthroughs to come.”
Congratulations to the team on this occasion!