Pedro Cox, M.D., is an interventional cardiologist and Medical Director of Structural Heart Disease at UHealth, the University of Miami Health System. For more information on heart valve disease treatments and services, click here or visit the UHealth Collective: https://news.umiamihealth.org/en/tavr-procedure-helps-heart-patients-enjoy-life-again/
MEET SONDRA LUXENBERG:
When 87-year-old Sondra Luxenberg felt fatigued a few months ago she knew it was her heart.
“I couldn’t breathe. I was feeling out of breath,” Sondra said.
She went to see Pedro Cox, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at UHealth, the University of Miami Health System, who specializes in heart valve disease. He told Sondra she needed an aortic valve replacement due to aortic stenosis.
“Aortic stenosis is a condition where you have the stiffening of the leaflets or doors inside the valves of the heart... leading to heart failure, chest pain. We’re seeing more people that are not candidates for open heart surgery. Now we do have other ways to treat and change valves inside the heart,” Dr. Cox said.
At UHealth, doctors have perfected the TAVR procedure. This allows patients to recover more quickly and get back to enjoying what they love.
“TAVR, it stands for transaortic valve replacement. We do a small incision in the femoral artery. We put a wire into the artery aorta and then into the heart. After the procedure is done and the valve is deployed, we basically take pictures to assure that the valve is in a good position. You go home next day or two days after the procedure,” Dr. Cox said.
“Right after the surgery I just felt wonderful. I could walk more now and not get short of breath.” Sondra said.
“I think it is very rewarding to see that you’re doing something that actually is helping people live the way they want to live with a good quality of life,” Dr. Cox said.
Sondra is back to enjoying her 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren! She’s grateful to Dr. Cox and the UHealth team.
“He was very warm. He just made you feel good,” Sondra said.
FOCUSING ON YOU
Focusing on You: Innovations in Modern Medicine is a series of healthcare-related stories airing regularly on WPLG Local 10. For more stories like this one, visit YouTube channels for UHealth, the University of Miami Health System.
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