Heart valve operation a game changer for Tasmanian patients
ABCWhen 85-year-old Lewis Munro was diagnosed with a leaky aortic valve, he thought he'd have to travel interstate for a replacement. Key points: Tasmania is the last state to introduce the 'revolutionary' heart procedure TAVI It replaces the need for open heart surgery in some elderly patients A former Tasmanian has returned from London skilled up to offer the procedure "I wasn't looking forward to going to Melbourne really, going up stairs and onto the plane, I've got a walking stick now," he said. "It's a keyhole procedure to fix the aortic valve, which is one of the main valves of the body … a very important valve, and it's done while patients are awake under local anaesthetic, Dr Adams said. Dr Adams said the procedure was revolutionary for a common heart condition called severe aortic stenosis, which is a degenerative valve problem. Move home opens doors Cardiologist Heath Adams says the procedure is "revolutionary" for elderly patients with a degenerative valve problem.
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