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Osceola Regional Medical Center recently performed its 100th TAVR cardiac life-saving procedure on an 84-year old hurricane survivor from Puerto Rico. The procedure, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), is a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for high-risk patients who suffer from a narrowed aortic valve. This is a sophisticated and advanced procedure not offered at many hospitals.

Ramona Centeno Santos was initially told by doctors in Puerto Rico that she had no chance of survival, as they did not have any treatment options for her aortic stenosis - a condition where the aortic valve is too narrow to fully open and the heart becomes overworked. After Hurricane Maria damaged her home in September 2017, Santos relocated to Central Florida where she learned of the TAVR procedure at Osceola Regional Medical Center and its potential to save her life. After a successful surgery earlier this week, she'll be able to go home with her family soon.

The Osceola Regional TAVR team includes Dr. Sayed Hussain, Interventional Cardiology and Medical Director, Valve Program, Dr. Jooby John, Interventional Cardiology, and Dr. Wade Fischer, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery. Together, the team treats patients who are candidates for this advanced procedure. Osceola Regional is one of few hospitals in the Central Florida area to offer the TAVR procedure and the only one in Osceola County.

Since the inception of its TAVR program, the cardiac physicians at Osceola Regional have performed twice the national average of TAVR cases annually with no interoperative mortalities, and a lower pacemaker and stroke rate than national averages. "As we mark the milestone of our 100th TAVR case, Ramona's story is a poignant reminder that this procedure has a tremendous impact on the lives of our patients and their loved ones," said Dr. Sayed Hussain. "These successes are a testament to our dedicated team, and we are proud to offer this life-saving procedure to our community."