Cardiology Specialists of Birmingham at Ascension St. Vincent’s in Birmingham, AL, is celebrating the first year of the opening of its structural heart program, which saw many new advancements in heart and valve procedures.
The structural heart program was created to meet the growing demand for advanced heart care in Birmingham. In its first year, the program was led by interventional and structural cardiologist Dr. Hassan Alkhawam.
“Dr. Alkhawam was the first to perform a CoreValve TAVR procedure at Ascension St. Vincent's, a milestone that underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in cardiovascular care,” said Timothy Bode, MD, Chief Clinical Officer, Ascension St. Vincent’s.
Dr. Alkhawam leads a team of cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons who specialize in managing and treating damage to the heart, coronary arteries and other heart and vascular conditions using advanced procedures, including, Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), MitraClip and Watchman.
Dr. Alkhawam shares some of the highlights that took place in the structural heart program’s first year, and the treatments now available for your advanced heart care needs.
Minimally invasive advanced heart care
Cardiology Specialists of Birmingham at Ascension St. Vincent’s treat aortic stenosis, a condition that results in the narrowing of the aortic valve, which reduces blood flow and puts significant strain on the heart. They use a minimally invasive procedure known as TAVR to make a small incision in the leg for a bioengineered valve to be positioned at the end of a catheter and navigated to the aortic valve.
One of the remarkable aspects of TAVR is the variety of valve options available to us. Two FDA-approved TAVR valves, the Sapien Edwards valve – balloon-expandable – and the CoreValve – self-expanding – have been pivotal in reshaping the field of structural cardiology.
While these valves share common goals, the decision between them depends on patient-specific factors. CoreValve, for instance, offers better advantages for patients with small annuli or heavily calcified aortic apparatus by optimizing how blood flows through the body and improving outcomes.
Our capability to provide and implant both valves underscores our commitment to tailored solutions, recognizing that the choice is nuanced and depends on individual patient characteristics and anatomical factors.
Heart devices to improve heart health
Mitra valve regurgitation is a condition in which the mitral valve does not close properly. It can be treated with a minimally invasive procedure using a device called MitraClip. MitraClip is a significant advancement in the treatment of this condition, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional open-heart surgery for eligible patients. It has been shown to be effective in improving symptoms and reducing hospitalizations related to mitral regurgitation.
The MitraClip helps to better align the valves so that they close more effectively, making a strong seal, which prevents blood from flowing backwards into the lower ventricle of the heart. This may help improve the overall function of the heart and can provide relief to patients with mitral regurgitation, often leading to improved quality of life and heart health.
Reducing the risk for stroke in patients with AFib
The Watchman is a medical device designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with a heart condition called atrial fibrillation (AFib) and can’t be on blood thinner. AFib can lead to blood clots forming in the heart, which can then travel to the brain, causing a stroke.
The Watchman device is implanted in a minimally invasive procedure, where it is placed in the left atrial appendage of the heart. This small, pouch-like structure is a common site for blood clots to form in AFib patients. By sealing off this area with the Watchman, the risk of blood clots escaping and causing a stroke is significantly reduced.
This device offers an alternative to long-term blood-thinning medications for some AFib patients, which can be challenging to manage. It has been shown to be effective in stroke risk reduction and can improve the quality of life for individuals with AFib. The Watchman is an innovative solution for reducing stroke risk in patients with this heart condition. Most of our patients can go home the same day.
Advanced care for congenital heart conditions
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal defect (ASD) are congenital heart conditions characterized by abnormal openings in the heart's chambers. While these openings may not always present immediate health concerns, they can lead to various heart-related complications over time, including an increased risk of stroke.
The launch of our new PFO and ASD program at the hospital is a significant development in our ongoing mission to provide comprehensive and specialized cardiovascular care. What sets our program apart is our commitment to offering minimally invasive procedures.
Using a catheter-based approach through the leg, PFO and ASD can be corrected without the need for open-heart surgery. Many patients can return home on the same day as their procedure. Our dedicated team of experts ensures that individuals with these congenital heart conditions receive personalized care tailored to their specific needs, improving their quality of life.
Innovative technology to treat pulmonary embolisms
In our unwavering commitment to comprehensive cardiovascular care, we've embarked on a specialized journey to address pulmonary embolisms (PE) with unparalleled expertise. Recognizing that each patient's condition is unique, we tailor our PE treatments based on detailed assessments, including CT scans, echocardiograms, and a thorough evaluation of functional status.
This personalized approach has led to the formation of a dedicated Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT), a team of experts who collaboratively design individualized treatment plans. One innovation is the use of Ekosonic Endovascular System (EKOS) technology that allows for targeted therapy to dissolve clots, enhancing patient outcomes and minimizing risks.
For the most challenging cases and sicker patients, we employ Inari, a remarkable device that suctions clots from pulmonary arteries, providing a level of precision and effectiveness that sets new technology in PE treatment. Our commitment to addressing pulmonary embolisms isn't just about medical interventions, it's about crafting personalized solutions to safeguard the well-being of each patient. With our multidisciplinary PERT team, cutting-edge technologies like anticoagulation alone versus EKOS, and the exceptional suction capabilities of Inari, we're not merely treating PE, we're pioneering a new era of care, offering hope and healing to those facing this critical condition.
Treatment for high-risk coronary artery disease
Those with severe coronary artery disease can benefit greatly from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to restore blood flow. For those patients who are at high risk with weak heart muscle and very severe coronary artery disease, advanced medical support with the Impella device helps to maintain blood flow to support the heart during this procedure.
Our passion lies in high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and advanced interventional procedures, where expertise and cutting-edge technology combine to provide exceptional outcomes. For cases that demand extraordinary measures, we use the Impella device, offering vital heart support during high-risk PCIs, guaranteeing the utmost safety and efficacy.
We treat all types of coronary artery diseases including those with left main disease, needs bifurcation stenting or Atherectomy by removing plaque build up in the arteries.
We take immense pride in our role as champions of heart health, providing nothing less than the most advanced and compassionate care for our patients, no matter the complexity of their condition.
To learn more about advanced heart care with Cardiology Specialists of Birmingham at Ascension St. Vincent’s call 205-939-7100.