Spectrum Health Structural Heart and Valve Center
The Spectrum Health Structural Heart & Valve Center brings groundbreaking advances to the treatment of structural heart and valve diseases. The center offers new options for valve replacement and repairs as well as treatments for septal defects and stroke prevention for atrial fibrillation. Our specialists have years of experience performing these minimally invasive procedures.
Spectrum benefits from a thorough and collaborative multidisciplinary team of interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and cardiovascular imaging specialists. We partner to develop individualized care plans while continuously working together to provide patients with innovative and effective cardiovascular care.
Spectrum Health started performing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures in 2011. We are a nationally recognized institution due to our advanced technologies and treatment options. We offer several FDA-approved, minimally invasive, catheter-based therapies, as well as clinical trials that provide up and coming treatments. Our state-of-the-art facilities, cutting edge technology and dedicated providers lead to better outcomes for our patients.
Minimally invasive procedures allow for easier and more rapid recovery as well as shorter lengths of stay.
A TAVR procedure utilizes a collapsible valve implanted percutaneously, and is indicated for patients at low, intermediate, high, or extreme risk for open-heart surgery.
Spectrum Health is one of the first hospitals in the area to investigate the Medtronic Intrepid TMVR system, a minimally invasive potential alternative to conventional open-heart mitral valve surgery.
Through the APOLLO trial, Spectrum Health will study the Intrepid TMVR system in patients who have severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation, and are either a candidate for, or ineligible for, conventional mitral valve surgery.
Another treatment options offered by our structural heart team for patients with severe mitral regurgitation who are not ideal surgical candidates.
During the procedure, imaging equipment is used to insert a catheter into the patient’s groin and guide it through the femoral vein to the affected area of the heart. The clip is then guided into place and attaches to the leaflets of the mitral valve. The clip will grasp the leaflets, creating a double orifice, reducing the degree of mitral regurgitation.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the Amplatzer PFO closure device to reduce the risk for cryptogenic stroke in patients who previously had a stroke believed to be caused by a blood clot passing through a PFO.
Our multispecialty team-based model allows the safest care plans to unfold for each patient. A Brain Heart team of cardiac specialists and stroke neurologists meets to discuss complex structural heart cases for patients at risk of embolic stroke. Collaboration with oncologists assures cardiac side effects are mitigated while patients receive cancer treatment. Each patient is assured expert opinions from clinicians who have subspecialized extensively in their field.
Our structural heart team performs this procedure in the cardiac catheterization room. A catheter is inserted into a large vein at the groin and advanced to the heart. The PFO closure device is moved through the vein to the heart, and specifically to the location of the heart wall defect. Once the correct location, the PFO closure device is formed so that it straddles each side of the hole. The device will remain in the heart permanently to stop the abnormal flow of blood between the two atrial chambers of the heart.
Patients with atrial septal defects may benefit from percutaneous closure, which would prevent the hemodynamic consequences of chamber volume overload. The device is attached to a catheter, guided by imaging equipment, and inserted through a blood vessel to the site of the defect. The device is then released, expanding to block the hole and hold the device in place. Recovery time following this procedure is considerably shorter compared with traditional surgery.
This is a treatment options offered by Spectrum Health’s Structural Heart team. This is an option for patients with severe aortic valve disease who are deemed inoperable for traditional open-heart surgery and are not candidates for TAVR, due to their current comorbidities. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty is a palliative therapy or bridge to either surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
With this procedure, a balloon dilation catheter is inserted through an artery in the groin and advanced into the heart. When the catheter reaches the valve, a balloon at the end of the tube is inflated. The balloon widens the valve opening. The goal of the procedure is to reduce the severity of stenosis.
A treatment option for patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. With this procedure, a catheter is inserted through a vein in the groin and advanced into the heart. When the catheter reaches the valve, a balloon at the end of the tube is inflated. The balloon widens the valve opening. The goal of the procedure is to reduce the severity of stenosis by enlarging the valve opening. The procedure is designed to provide symptomatic relief and may actually delay or minimize the need to perform open-heart surgery
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) after an acute MI can lead to fatal complications for patients and usually requires a rapid diagnosis and treatment. Treatment usually involves surgical closure; however, patients are frequently unstable or too sick for traditional surgery. Spectrum Health was the first site in West Michigan to perform percutaneous VSD closure utilizing an Amplatzer Occluder device. A catheter is inserted in the groin and guided to the VSD. Once in place, the device is released, resulting in occlusion of the defect.
For patients who have significant risk for stroke due to atrial fibrillation but also have significant risks of bleeding or are intolerant to anticoagulation medications, percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion can be performed to reduce the risk of stroke.
The procedure involves implanting a parachute-shaped self-expanding device to seal the LAA. Implantation occurs via a catheter inserted in the right femoral vein and guided into the LAA. Once the device is appropriately placed and completely sealed, anticoagulation can be discontinued.
Spectrum Health currently performs the second-highest number of LAA occlusion procedures in the state.
Brain heart
Spectrum Health is one of the only sites nationwide with a well-established Neuro-Cardio board called Brain Heart. Our structural heart and stroke neurology team collaborate closely monthly to identify the appropriate work up for patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source and to identify and describe appropriate treatment options for patients with heart rhythm disorders who are not candidates for anticoagulation.
Hybrid operating rooms
Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center utilizes hybrid operating rooms for heart valve disease patients. These rooms offer high-end angiographic equipment that is traditionally used in the Cath lab, and they can be used in a surgical environment as well.
Hybrid rooms allow us to use a combination of surgical and percutaneous techniques to provide optimal therapy for the patients and allow for emergent open-heart surgery, if necessary. The Meijer Heart Center cardiovascular operating room hub has been recognized as one of the most efficient operating room hubs in the nation.
Research
Early Feasibility Study (EFS) of the Intrepid ™ TMVR Transseptal System
The prospective, multi-center, non-randomized EFS will evaluate the safety and performance of the Intrepid TMVR System with the transfemoral approach in patients with severe, symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR) who are ineligible for conventional mitral valve surgery.
The study will enroll and treat up to 15 patients who require mitral valve intervention at up to ten centers. Treated patients will be followed at one, three, six and 12 months, and every six months thereafter through 5 years. The results from this EFS study will inform the development of next generation transfemoral TMVR technologies
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