'World-class' team celebrates 500th TAVI

The "world-class" heart team at Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital (SCUPH) has celebrated delivering its 500th surgical procedure using a minimally-invasive technique in just five years.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is an alternative to open-heart surgery for patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis – a life-threatening narrowing of the valve.

It is designed to offer a shorter hospital stay and recovery time, as well as less scarring.

Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital became the first regional Australian site to roll out an accredited TAVI program in 2019.

"It's a testament to the skills and dedication of the 'heart team' at SCUPH – the nurses, allied health staff, cardiac catheterisation lab team, and doctors who work together for each TAVI operation," interventional cardiologist Dr Peter Larsen said.

"We have a world-class cardiac team here at SCUPH. I've worked in theatres all around the world and the team at SCUPH is exceptional.

"We have had some urgent, emergency cases and the team has always been there to make sure we look after every patient regardless of the time or day."

With TAVI procedures, the patient's narrowed aortic valve is replaced by an artificial valve delivered via a catheter placed through the femoral artery in the groin.

Patients can usually leave the hospital after two or three days, compared to around a week to 10 days for open-heart procedures.

Dr Larsen said it was "so important" for this procedure to be available on the Sunshine Coast.

"Not just for the patient who can have treatment close to home, but also their family and caregivers, who can visit and look after the patient pre- and post-procedure without the need to travel 100-plus kilometres," he said.

Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital, part of the Ramsay Health Care group, has recently completed a multi-million-dollar redevelopment to boost services and reduce the need for local residents to travel to Brisbane for treatment.

"We're committed to offering Sunshine Coast locals access to modern surgical options designed to improve patient experience and outcomes," SCUPH CEO Peter Fahey said.

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