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Howie: Aspirus St. Luke’s hits 500th heart valve milestone

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1:55 p.m.

Aspirus St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular Care has completed its 500th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, a minimally invasive procedure for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not candidates for open-heart surgery.

“Reaching this milestone means our incredible team has helped 500 people with a very serious condition get the necessary care in a minimally invasive fashion to lead longer, healthier lives,” Aspirus St. Luke’s Cardiologist Dr. Scott Mikesell, FACC, FSCAI, said in a press release. “It’s incredibly rewarding to watch patients get back to their lives with less pain, faster recovery, and renewed energy.”

The hospital began offering TAVR six years ago. The procedure involves inserting a catheter through a small incision in the groin or chest and expanding a new valve into place to restore blood flow.

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