HackensackUMC Performs Groundbreaking Minimally Invasive Replacement of Heart Valves in Hybrid Operating Room

HACKENSACK, N.J., April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- HackensackUMC is the first hospital in Northern New Jersey to perform a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive replacement of heart valves. This groundbreaking procedure took place in HackensackUMC's new state-of-the-art Hybrid Operating Room. The TAVR procedure is a revolutionary new way to replace an aortic valve without the use of a heart lung machine or open-heart surgery.  

The surgery was performed by Dr. Jock McCullough of Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Thomas Cocke of Cardiology, Dr. Pranay Vaidya of Cardiology, Dr. Leonard Lee of Cardiac Surgery, and Dr. Michael Wilderman and Dr. Gregory Simonian of Vascular Surgery at HackensackUMC on Thursday, April 5. The procedure was performed using the Edwards SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve, a newly FDA approved product released on a limited basis. HackensackUMC is one of only a few select hospitals in the region performing this procedure on qualified patients.

During the procedure, the physician inserts a valve through a small cut in the patient's leg. The valve is advanced through the native aortic valve on a balloon catheter placed in the upper leg. The balloon is then expanded leaving the new aortic valve in place.

"These are exciting times in cardiovascular care. This new technology provides a tremendous opportunity for people that previously had no effective therapeutic option. With our rapidly aging population, a growing number of patients suffer from severe aortic stenosis, and finally we have the ability do something to help them lead a more productive lifestyle in this phase of their life," said Dr. Jock McCullough. "At HackensackUMC we are heavily committed to remaining at the forefront of innovation and technology, driven to provide our patients the best medical care we are able to deliver. To be able to treat these patients through a minimally invasive procedure is truly remarkable."

Approximately 250,000 people in the United States suffer from severe aortic stenosis. These patients tend to be elderly with deteriorating medical conditions, and are often ineligible for traditional open-heart surgery. For these patients there is no effective, long-term treatment option to prevent or delay their disease progression. Without treatment, half of these patients die within an average of two years.

This groundbreaking technology will greatly benefit patients with significant medical issues in a minimally invasive fashion. The aortic valve replacement procedure offers patients considered too ill for traditional open-heart surgery an alternative treatment option. Patients who have received this new device not only lived longer, but felt better, and significantly improved their quality of life.

HackensackUMC's Hybrid Operating Room
The state-of-the-art Hybrid Operating Room at HackensackUMC is one of only a handful of operating rooms in the nation where open or minimally invasive surgical procedures and catheterization can be performed simultaneously. The Hybrid OR combines conventional operating rooms with high-tech imaging, allowing surgeons and their colleagues to work together in the same room. These multipurpose rooms bring technology to the patient, improve overall care and shorten hospital stays. If there are complications, surgery can happen immediately in the same room, maximizing time and minimizing stress on the patient. This groundbreaking technology greatly benefits patients with significant medical issues in a minimally invasive fashion. 

HackensackUMC unveiled its new Hybrid OR, performing multiple procedures in recent weeks. The first case performed in the Hybrid OR was an advanced endograft case that took place on February 29.  Gregory Simonian, M.D., chief of Endovascular Studies and acting co-chairman of the Heart & Vascular Hospital, performed the first case.  Over ten more advanced endograft cases were performed since the Hybrid OR has been opened treating both abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms by Michael Wilderman, M.D., and Massimo Napolitano, M.D., of the Division of Vascular Surgery and Leonard Lee, M.D., from the Division of the Cardiothoracic Surgery at HackensackUMC.

"The Hybrid OR is the marriage of sophisticated technology and the expertise of highly-skilled physicians. The ability to perform multiple procedures at once is more cost-effective and easier on the patient. These rooms are improving overall patient care, resulting in safer, more positive outcomes with quicker recovery time for patients," said Dr. Simonian. "As we make advancements in minimally invasive surgery, the Hybrid OR will help the Heart & Vascular Hospital become a national destination for complex, multi-objective procedures."

Hackensack University Medical Center remains at the forefront of advanced cardiovascular care and minimally invasive procedures.  The Heart and Vascular Hospital at HackensackUMC is committed to providing the most advanced and effective procedures through the dedication of highly specialized physicians and nurses coupled with the latest technology.  

About Hackensack University Medical Center
HackensackUMC, a non-profit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, New Jersey, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. This 775-bed facility has gone beyond traditional thinking by creating an entire campus of care, including: the Heart & Vascular Hospital, the John Theurer Cancer Center, the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, and the Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital. As a result of using science and creativity to push medicine further, HackensackUMC has been named one of America's 50 Best Hospitals by HealthGrades® for six years in a row - the only hospital in New Jersey, New York, and New England to receive this honor. The medical center has been named to the Leapfrog Top Hospitals List, received 17 Gold Seals of Approval™ by the Joint Commission,  is ranked in Cancer, Cardiology and Heart Surgery, and Geriatrics by U.S. News and World Report's "2011-12 Best Hospitals" list, is the only New Jersey hospital ranked on U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals Metro Area Top 10," is listed as one of the 50 Best Hospitals in America by Becker's Hospital Review, and is a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence, the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation. The Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital is the first hospital in the State of New Jersey ever to be ranked in a Best Children's Hospitals specialty by the U.S. News & World Report's "2011-12 Best Children's Hospitals" list. The medical center is the hometown hospital of the New York Giants and the New Jersey Nets, and remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events. To learn more about one of the nation's top 50 hospitals, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.   

SOURCE Hackensack University Medical Center