Heart specialists at James Cook Hospital celebrate patient milestone.

The TAVI team in the Cath Labs at The James Cook University Hospital Credit: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Heart specialists at The James Cook University Hospital celebrate patient milestone.

The heart team have successfully carried out one of its most advanced procedures on more than 500 patients.

TAVI, which stands for transcatheter aortic valve implantation, is an advanced procedure in which a team of specially trained consultants replace a narrowed heart valve without the need for open heart surgery.

In some patients, particularly older patients, this aortic valve becomes narrower over time and stops the heart pumping as hard as it should do causing breathlessness and chest pain symptoms.

Open heart surgery would involve opening up the patient’s chest, stopping their heart and inserting a new artificial heart valve, which is often too high risk for more frail or elderly patients.

TAVI gives patients a less invasive option as they are fitted with new heart valves using advanced imaging technology and a tube, inserted through a small cut meaning there is no need to stop the heart.

Cardiologists at the Middlesbrough hospital completed their 500th TAVI procedure in June.

Medical developments of TAVI since the procedure was first carried out in 2009:

  • Patients had to go to hospital a day before the procedure

  • General anaesthetic was used, meaning the patient was asleep throughout

  • Patients would need 3-5 days to recover in hospital.

8 years later the procedure has moved on:

  • Patients turn up for the procedure on the day, no need to be hospitalised a day early

  • Local anaesthetic

  • Patients are awake throughout

  • Equipment is more sophisticated

  • Recover time is a lot less

Consultant cardiologist Douglas Muir said:

George Carmichael with his wife Mary Credit: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

One of the earlier patients to undergo the procedure was George Carmichael, a retired marine engineer from Stockton.

George had already had open heart surgery in the past, but in 2011 underwent a TAVI procedure.

Bill Jones with wife Pamela Credit: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Bill Jones, 91, had a TAVI operation earlier this year to repair his faulty heart valve.

The retired engineer was awake through the whole procedure and back home the next day.

Bill from Yarm, who celebrated his 60 th wedding anniversary this year with wife Pamela, said: