David Milsted, the 300th patient, can attest to an improved quality of life after having the procedure in June. After undergoing a quadruple bypass 15 years ago, he was closely monitored by Ascension Sacred Heart cardiologist Dr. Paul Tamburro.
When his condition prevented him from sleeping well and walking up a flight of stairs, Dr. Tamburro suggested it was time to consider TAVR.
“I think I learned to compensate for my condition over the years,” he said. “Thank goodness Dr. Tamburro provided due diligence and was there to make the call when it was necessary.”
The TAVR procedure avoids the need for open heart surgery by inserting a new valve within the patient's damaged aortic valve using two small incisions in the groin. A team of cardiovascular specialists work in combination during the procedure. Patients typically do not need to be placed under general anesthesia and the majority of patients go home the next day with little to no recovery.
Successful procedure outcomes require an experienced medical and support team working at a comprehensive medical center that has the ability to manage risk and complications. Dr. Mark Grise, interventional cardiologist at Ascension Sacred Heart, said the team doesn’t measure their success by numbers, but by the improved quality of life of their patients.
“We treated our first patient in 2016, and since that time we’ve treated more than 300 patients with excellent outcomes,” Grise said. “It’s exciting for us to see how well our patients are doing when they return for follow-up appointments.”
Milsted, 75, said doctors at Ascension Sacred Heart have earned his trust over the years. From primary care to orthopedics to cardiology, he has confidence in the team he has assembled. Not long after his procedure, he was back to doing activities he enjoys like working on the yard and dancing with his wife Beverly.
For more information, visit getascensioncare.com/cardiovascular/TAVR/florida/pensacola.