Robert Regent , 84 , of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains , has battled heart disease for the past 16 years , but it hasn ’ t stopped him from living life to the fullest .
“ Atone time , New York City was the center of medicine . Now hospitals in New Jersey have the same capabilities .”
AMEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH FOR
HEART VALVEPATIENTS Pompton Plains resident receives life-saving alternative to open-heart surgery
Robert Regent , 84 , of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains , has battled heart disease for the past 16 years , but it hasn ’ t stopped him from living life to the fullest .
In fact , hesurvived open-heart surgery and several angioplasties before cruising to Hawaii in January of2015 , when shortness of breath and other concerning symptoms landed him in a Honolulu hospital . “ I was supposed to meet my friends for dinner , but couldn ’ t walk too far and didn ’ tfeel right . So Iwent to the medical facility … and they carted me off the ship ,” herecalled . Instead of enjoying the rest of his vacation , Regent received another stent followed byaconfirmed diagnosis ofprosthetic valve stenosis , a narrowing or obstruction that develops in areplaced heart valve .
“ To say it was not the trip Ihad planned would beanunderstatement ,” he quipped .
Days later , Regent was back home and under the care ofChilton Medical Center cardiologists Mark Rosenthal , MD and Lawrence Blitz , MD , medical director of the hospital ’ s Cardiovascular Interventional Lab . The physicians monitored his condition and ultimately recommended transcatheter aortic valve replacement ( TAVR ), abreakthrough technique offering new hope topatients who might otherwise forego treatment . For Regent , it was the only way to replace his failing valve without another surgery – and the best chance for saving his life .
Understanding ValVe disease
Aortic stenosis is the most common form of acquired valvular heart disease . Historically , ithas been treated with surgical valve replacement ( SAVR ), during which adamaged valve issurgically removed and replaced with amechanical or tissue valve . “ A tissue
“ Atone time , New York City was the center of medicine . Now hospitals in New Jersey have the same capabilities .”
replacement doesn ’ t last forever ,” stated Dr . Blitz . “ The valve lasts about 10 to 15 years before it degenerates and either becomes stenotic or narrowed or insufficient or leaky .” That was precisely the case for Regent , who underwent asurgical aortic valve replacement in 2001 .
Prosthetic valve stenosis isphysiologically the same as the more common heart valve disease called aortic stenosis , which is also degenerative and treatable with SAVRortheTAVRprocedure . Both conditions result from anaccumulation of calcium or scarring in the heart ’ saortic valve .
Essentially , the aortic valve acts like adoor to the body ’ s circulatory system , allowing oxygen-rich blood toflow through the heart to the brain and other areas . “ When that door is partially closed , blood flow isconstricted and the heart must work alot harder ,” explained Dr . Blitz . “ It can ’ t function effectively , causing symptoms such as fatigue , shortness ofbreath , chest pain , or exertional lightheadedness orpassing out .” As the disease progresses patients may struggle to walk , climb stairs and perform routine activities .
Severe aortic stenosis can lead to heart failure and carries apoor prognosis when left untreated . Less than 60 percent ofpatients survive more than two years .
“ The mortality rate is high because most patients are elderly ,” remarked Dr . Blitz . Many have co-existing medical conditions and are too sick for openheart surgery . Until recently , they had no viable option for heart valve replacement . ButTAVRhas revolutionized the way physicians treat severe aortic disease – providing aminimally invasive alternative that can replace a faulty valve without surgical intervention .
Robert Regent
anew approach to ValVe replacement
Chilton Medical Center physicians can now offer heart patients access to TAVR in collaboration with cardiac surgeons at Morristown Medical Center , the first hospital in New Jersey to introduce this innovation for severe aortic stenosis . Since both hospitals are part of Atlantic Health System , patients like Robert Regent have ready access toone of the country ’ stop 50 cardiology and heart surgery programs as ranked byU . S . News & World Report and ahospital that treats more patients with heart valve disease than any other health care provider in the state . Morristown Medical Center ’ sworld-renowned team of cardiac specialists performs approximately 700 valve procedures each year .
SUMMER 2017 Chilton Magazine