The Heart Institute at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point Proudly Announces the Ribbon Cutting and Open House of Its TAVR Program

The Heart Institute at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point recently held a ribbon cutting and open house for its newly installed TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) program. The by invitation ribbon cutting and open house was attended by a healthy crowd. COO Joe Rudisill gave the welcome and introduced Rao Musunuru, MD, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who presented a history of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point and its commitment to heart programs.

Chief Medical Officer Joseph Pino, MD, MBA, introduced the distinguished TAVR team:

Keshav Ramireddy, MD, Medical Director of the Valve Clinic and the TAVR Program

• Rami Akel, MD
• Mowaffak Atfeh, MD
• Marshall DeSantis, MD
• Narayana Rattehalli, MD
• Michael Wahl, MD
• Vivian Maynes, RN, BSN, serves as heart valve navigator

The crowd gathers as the first patient, Ron Bixler, who received the first TAVR procedure at RMCBP, cuts the ribbon.

What is TAVR?

TAVR is a minimally invasive surgical procedure which repairs the valve without removing the old, damaged valve. Instead, it wedges a replacement valve into the aortic valve’s place. The surgery may be called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implementation (TAVI).

What is Aortic Valve Stenosis?

Aortic valve stenosis is one of the most common and most serious valve disease problems. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening. Aortic stenosis restricts the blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and may also affect the pressure in the left atrium. Aortic valve stenosis does not always produce symptoms. It’s important to note that many people with aortic valve stenosis do not experience noticeable symptoms until the amount of restrictive blood flow becomes significantly reduced.

Symptoms of aortic stenosis may include:

Breathlessness

• Chest pain (angina), pressure or tightness
• Fainting, also called syncope
• Palpitations or a feeling of heavy, pounding or noticeable heartbeats
• Decline in activity level or reduced ability to do normal activities requiring mild exertion
• Heart murmur

How is TAVR unlike traditional open heart surgery?

It is a closed chest treatment

• It takes place while the patient’s heart is still beating
• It eliminates the need for heart/lung machine
• It doesn’t require stopping the heart

To learn more about the TAVR procedure, contact Vivian Maynes, RN, BSN, Heart Valve Navigator at 727-819-2969 or visit RMCHealth.com, or talk to your physician.

About Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point

Regional Medical Center Bayonet has been serving the community since 1981. We are a 290-bed acute care hospital located in Hudson, FL and home of the nationally acclaimed Heart Institute. We have more than 300 physicians, 1,264 employees and 400 volunteers on our integrated healthcare delivery team.

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has achieved distinction in the following areas:

• Level II Trauma Center
• Accredited by The Joint Commission
• Healthgrades Multi-Award RecipientCertified Advance Primary Stroke Center - Joint Commission
  • Five Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 13 years in a row (2005-2017)
  • Five Star Recipient for Back Surgery eight years in a row (2010 – 2017)
  • Five Star Recipient for Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm for two years in a row (2016 – 2017)
  • Recipient of Healthgrades 2017 Patient Safety Excellence Awardâ„¢
  • Named among the top 5% in the nation for Patient Safety in 2017
  • Five Star Recipient for Appendectomy for three years in a row (2015 – 2017)
• MRI, CT, Ultrasound, and Nuclear Medicine Accredited - American College of Radiology
• Accredited Community Cancer Program - American College of Surgery
• Joint Commission Disease-Specific Certifications: primary stroke center, sepsis
• Accredited Teaching Facility by the American Osteopathic Association, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point is located at 14000 Fivay Road, Hudson, FL. 34667. For additional information on Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point visit www.rmchealth.com or www.heartoftampa.com or visit us on Facebook