MUHC asked to participate in prestigious conference

For the second year in a row, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) has been invited to perform a live Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) for thousands of spectators from around the world. The conference is being organized by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation regarding Transcatheter Valve Therapies, which is held annually in Seattle or Vancouver (alternates every other year). 

“We performed two live cases on the same day last year,” says Serge Lapierre, the MUHC research coordinator for the Interventional Structural Heart and Transcatheter Valve Program. “This year, on June 12 and 13, we will perform a transcatheter aortic valve implantation, which will take about 45 minutes.”

This procedure is used on people with aortic valve stenosis, a disease that negatively affects the pumping of blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Aortic valve stenosis can result in shortness of breath, chest pain and loss of consciousness. If not treated promptly after the onset of symptoms or weakening of the heart, patients may experience worsening heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

Traditionally, valvular heart disease has been treated with surgical repair or replacement. Over the last several years, however, there have been important advances in concepts, tools, techniques, and patient selection for treatment of valvular heart disease using nonsurgical procedures.

Transcatheter valve intervention offers the potential to reduce procedural morbidity, mortality, and costs of surgical valve replacement or repair while accelerating patient recovery.

During the live-transmitted surgery there will be much interaction. Physicians involved will have speakers and headphones and people viewing the procedure can ask questions. “People can ask anything from what is your approach or strategy, what do you do at this or that time, or why do you use this tool or technique over another?” says Lapierre. “It is very interactive.” 

The MUHC physicians who will be participating in the live conference include, Dr. Nicolo Piazza, who has a PhD in Transcatheter Valve Therapies and is internationally renowned for his skill in this speciality, Dr. Giuseppe Martucci, Dr. Benoit de Varennes, Dr. Kevin Lachapelle and Dr. Jean Buithieu.