Stroke is becoming a common fear as people age. Many Americans think that having a stroke without a disability is worse than dying. Stroke is one of the most serious risks associated with heart valve replacement. Doctors are eager to learn about any new technology that might help.
Nearly one in ten patients who have minimally-invasive heart valve repair, also known as transcatheter aortic va replacement or TAVR, suffer from strokes.
These strokes are most common during procedures or within the first 72 hours after. They are caused by calcium deposits, or tissue that has broken loose from the heart valve and surrounding area. This causes damage to the brain.
A new FDA-cleared technology is however available called the Sentinel Cerebral Protection System, which is now available, has been shown to protect patients from strokes during TAVR.
It is the only device that protects the brain during this procedure in the United States. Furthermore, studies have shown that it decreases stroke incidence by 63 per cent. Sentinel prevents potentially dangerous material from reaching the brain during the procedure by capturing it and then removing it. This protects protected TAVR. This type of debris is removed by TAVR patients in 99 percent of cases, according to clinical studies.
The TAVR procedure is offered at a select number of centers in the country.
Robert Eckley from Seminole in Florida was able undergo protected TAVR using new technology in a clinical study before it was approved.
“My biggest fear was having a stroke, and I really believe if I didn’t have the Sentinel device, I would have had serious problems. I’m grateful to have had a successful surgery and the device did capture a lot of debris,”He says.
“My lifestyle is back to normal and I can do all the activity I used to do before the surgery without dizzy spells, shortness of breath or stopping to rest.”
Visit www.sentinel.org for more information regarding the Sentinel and the protected TAVR. www.claretmedical.comOr call (707) 527-8253
