TMC among the first to offer new, heart-valve technology

Boston Scientific LOTUS Edge valve system TMC is one of 10 hospitals in the United States chosen by Boston Scientific to offer the LOTUS Edge valve system to high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Aortic stenosis is a serious heart condition - the aortic heart valve narrows and does not open completely, reducing blood flow from the heart to the main (aorta) artery of the body, meaning the heart has to work harder to pump the blood the body needs.  

The condition can range from mild to severe, but the condition is progressive. When severe, aortic stenosis can weaken the heart muscle and lead to life threatening complications, such as heart failure, stroke, blood clots and heart infections. 

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure that restores proper aortic valve function, extending life-saving treatment to patients without the risk, pain and recovery time of open-heart surgery.

The device also features a braided valve frame and an adaptive seal that minimizes paravalvular regurgitation or leaking (PVL) by conforming to the unique shape and size of each patient’s aortic valve.

“The LOTUS Edge valve is a safe and effective technology to treat severe aortic stenosis for our patients who are not candidates for traditional open-heart surgery,” said Thomas Waggoner, D.O., FACC, FSCAI, FSVM, RPVI, the director of the TMC Structural Heart Program. “The advanced equipment and highly-trained support staff make TMC the ideal environment to perform TAVR procedures like LOTUS Edge.”

Find out more about the Structural Heart Program at Tucson Medical Center.