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Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute 1000th TAVR Procedure

Patient of Baptist's 1000th TAVR procedure, John Luetkemeyer, is pictured with Dr. Luther Carter. They are holding a sign that says 1000th TAVR. In the background there is a blue background with balloons for the celebration.

Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute has reached a significant milestone, completing its 1,000^th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure.

Since launching the program in 2014, the institute has provided a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis. This serious heart valve condition can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, the inability to perform simple tasks and other symptoms that worsen over time. Before TAVR, open-heart surgery was the standard treatment for many patients with the condition.

“The vast majority of patients now receive aortic valve replacement without open-heart surgery," said Interventional Cardiologist Luther Carter, M.D., FACC, FSCAI. "I've been hearing it for more than 12 years, and it's pretty amazing that it's the same story over and over again about patient’s improved quality of life."

Baptist became the first in Florida's Panhandle to offer the advanced, minimally invasive procedure.

It is performed by a team of interventional cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, advanced practice providers, nurses and support staff. The procedure replaces a diseased aortic valve using a catheter-based approach, allowing many patients to avoid open-heart surgery and recover more quickly.

“I was a lot more nervous before the procedure than after, in the sense that I didn’t like the way I was feeling. Coming out of surgery, I felt a lot better,” said John Luetkemeyer, the 1000^th TAVR patient. “I have less shortness of breath, and I am able to walk greater distances. I can’t say enough good words for everybody here.”

To the team at Baptist, the 1,000^th procedure represents more than a number. It reflects more than a decade of expertise and teamwork, and most importantly, 1,000 patients who have benefitted from advanced heart care.

"Reaching 1,000 TAVR procedures is an important milestone, but what matters most is what it represents for our patients," said Interventional Cardiologist Safwan Jaalouk, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute. "These individuals were facing serious heart issues with limited treatment options. Today, they are back to spending time with family and enjoying life."