The Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan marked the successful completion of the first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedures at University of Michigan Health-West as it expands services to meet the needs of patients in the region. The milestone is a significant advancement in cardiac care, offering a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery.
The FDA-approved TAVR procedure is a treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at higher risk for surgery. This procedure allows doctors to replace a heart valve through small incisions in the leg, and not only reduces recovery times, but can be used in patients not eligible for conventional open-heart surgery.
“The introduction of TAVR at UM Health-West shows our commitment to providing state-of-the-art treatment options here in Grand Rapids,” said Dr. Ronald Grifka, UM Health-West president. “We are proud of our physicians, Dr. Michael Sumners and Dr. Alphonse DeLucia III who worked closely with our partners, including Dr. Noah Thormeier from Trinity Health Muskegon and Dr. Michael Grossman from the Frankel Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor to start our program. This now allows more patients to be able to receive the best possible care close to their home.”
Leading the cardiac surgery team, Dr. Alphonse DeLucia III, expressed pride in the achievement. “Recently completing our 200th open-heart surgery and now offering TAVR demonstrates the high level of trust and expertise in our team. These milestones reflect our mission to advance heart health in Grand Rapids and improve access for cardiovascular care for our patients in West Michigan.”
Related: Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan celebrates 200th heart surgery milestone
In addition to TAVR, Cardiovascular Network doctors offer a wide range of advanced capabilities including coronary artery bypass graft surgery, aortic valve surgery, mitral valve surgery, treatment of aortic aneurysm and cardiac ablation procedures.
“The collaborative effort that exists between our partners at UM Health-West, Trinity Health and the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor ensures that every patient we treat will receive personalized, world-class care” said Dr. Himanshu Patel, executive director of the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan.
The Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan, a cooperative alliance between Trinity Health Muskegon, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, UM Health-West with more than 125 years of cardiovascular leadership from University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor, continues to set benchmarks in cardiac care with a patient-centered approach that leverages decades of collective expertise and advanced medical technologies.
