PinnacleHealth becomes first hospital to implant EDWARDS INTUITY Elite valve

PinnacleHealth recently became the first hospital in the United States to implant the EDWARDS INTUITY Elite valve, which is a fast-deployment device for the replacement of a surgical aortic valve.

This comes following the approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"PinnacleHealth CardioVascular Institute surgeons perform more coronary artery bypass and valve surgeries than any other hospital in the region and is in the top five acute care hospitals in Pennsylvania,” PinnacleHealth President and CEO Michael A. Young said. “While maintaining this high volume, important quality indicators such as mortality and readmission rates remain low.”

The team that completed this historic task was led by Dr. Mubsahir Mumtaz, PinnacleHealth’s chief of cardiothoracic surgery and surgical director of the structural heart program. He replaced the aortic valve in two patients using the intercostal surgical aortic valve replacement (iSAVR) technique. This minimally invasive approach accesses the heart through the rib space without dividing any major muscle groups, rib or cartilage. The EDWARDS INTUITY Elite valve system, which was developed at PinnacleHealth, makes this approach possible.

"We are able to offer our patients with aortic stenosis less invasive surgical options such as iSAVR. This can mean less trauma, quicker recovery and decreased need for blood transfusions," Dr. Mumtaz said. "Participation in clinical trials can lead to improved care and innovations, particularly for our complex cardiac patients. This milestone in cardiac treatment can reassure the community that nationally recognized heart care is available close to home."