ATLANTA - Hundreds of patients will gather this Saturday to help Emory University celebrate its milestone achievement of performing 1000 transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR).  

Emory was one of the first sites in the nation, and the first in Georgia, to offer TAVR as a part of the PARTNER 1 trial. The valve offers a lifesaving, non-surgical treatment option for patients with narrowing, failing aortic valves, commonly known as aortic stenosis. Severe narrowing restricts normal blood flow to the entire body, and patients often develop symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting spells and heart failure.

During the TAVR procedure, doctors create a small incision in the groin or chest wall and then feed the new valve, mounted on a catheter, into the opening of the aortic valve. When the new valve expands, it pushes the diseased valve aside allowing blood to flow normally to the rest of the body.

As one of the top three enrollers for this trial nationally, Emory physicians were instrumental in helping secure US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the valve in 2012 and remains deeply involved in the development of additional treatment options for patients with aortic stenosis.

What:
More than 300 heart patients, their families and health care providers from Emory's Structural Heart and Valve Center reunite for the 1000^th patient celebration. Cocktails and a buffet style dinner will be provided.

When:
Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m.

Where:
Emory Conference Center Hotel
1615 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329

Who:
Media will have the opportunity to speak with Emory TAVR patients and members of Emory’s Structural Heart & Valve team. The team is comprised of physicians and healthcare providers from multiple heart and vascular specialties, including Interventional Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiac Imaging.

Media Note:

Media must confirm attendance prior to the event with Jennifer Johnson McEwen at jrjohn9@emory.edu or 404-441-5929 (cell)

Featured Patient:

• Meet the 1000^th patient, an 84-year-old man from Pennsylvania, who received his new aortic valve several weeks ago and remained with family in Atlanta to attend this exciting celebration.
• Meet a variety of other patients including WWII veterans, breast cancer survivors and others whose lives were saved because of this landmark treatment.

Related TAVR stories:

• Five-year results of groundbreaking aortic valve replacement study announced at ACC
• A no-crack solution to aortic stenosis
• Promising Results in Groundbreaking Heart Valve Study At Emory
• New Option for Heart Valve Replacement Under Study at Emory University Hospital