Sunrise Hospital the First to Implant the SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve
Las Vegas, NV — On Tuesday, September 8, The Heart Center at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center implanted the first SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV). It was the first percutaneous as well as the first Edwards SAPIEN 3 THV implanted in Southern Nevada. Cardiologists Branavan Umakanthan, Fareed Sheikh, Rafael Valencia and cardiothoracic surgeon Nauman Jahangir and anesthesiologist Kendall Truelsen all performed this first procedure together.
The SAPIEN 3 THV is approved for patients who are inoperable or at high risk for death or complications due to open-heart surgery. This is good for patients with a narrowing in the heart’s aortic value, called aortic valve stenosis. The valve design also has changed which has led to infrequent leakage through and around the heart value. The SAPIEN 3 THV can assist with correcting the blood flow problem associated with aortic stenosis in patients who need open -heart surgery to replace the diseased value or those considered by their doctors to be at high risk.
“This advancement will improve the lives of many people who are presumed to be high risk for surgery and the expedited recovery time will allow people to return to their daily activities which will better their quality of life”, said Todd P. Sklamberg, Chief Executive Office of Sunrise Hospital and Sunrise Children’s Hospital. “This is our continuous dedication in providing high-quality care to our community.”
The new valve design uses a smaller sheath so the hole in the artery is smaller and does not need the surgeon to make an incision in the femoral artery. In result, the SAPIEN 3 has reduced the procedure and recovery time. Patients are usually hospitalized for about seven days. Due to the SAPIEN 3, the patient was discharged the next day.
About Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center
As Nevada’s largest acute care facility and Level II Trauma Center, Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center offers high quality, patient-centered healthcare to the residents of Southern Nevada, its surrounding region, and the millions of visitors that come to Las Vegas. As a 16-time Consumer Choice award-winning hospital and two-time “Best Hospital in Las Vegas,” Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center is the region’s healthcare leader. The Nevada Neurosciences Institute – the region’s most comprehensive Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center – provides world-class care for stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions. The Breast Center at Sunrise Hospital is the only Accredited Breast Center in Southern Nevada.
The Heart Center at Sunrise offers the most advanced cardiac care and features an Accredited Chest Pain Center. As Nevada’s first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Program and the only pediatric open heart surgery program in the state, Sunrise is leading the way in providing advanced cardiac care to Southern Nevada and the surround regions. Located on the same campus is Sunrise Children’s Hospital, Nevada’s largest, most comprehensive children’s hospital. For more information on Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, visit Sunrise Hospital, follow on Twitter @SunriseLasVegas and Facebook.
Need to find a physician or get answers to your health questions? Call (702) 233-5454.