Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital heart patients and caregivers came together last week to celebrate the facility’s medical milestone of performing their 500th lifesaving TAVR procedure to repair damaged heart valves. Previously, patients in Northern Utah that needed the state-of-the-art procedure had to go to Salt Lake City or farther.

In November 2016, doctors at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital started a program to provide the procedure closer to where those patients live. Many patients who are too weak or ill to undergo major open-heart surgery to have their faulty valves replaced would die without the procedure. 

TAVR, which stands for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, is a minimally-invasive heart procedure that uses a catheter to replace narrowed aortic valves that fail to open properly, according to Intermountain Health. “This occurs when the heart's aortic valve thickens and calcifies, preventing the valve from opening fully, which limits blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.” 

Patients with the condition, called aortic stenosis can experience symptoms such as fatigue, fainting, chest pain, leg swelling and shortness of breath. In some patients it could also lead to heart failure and sudden cardiac death, the Intermountain release said.

 “I was working on my sprinklers,” said Centerville resident Larry McClurg, who was the 501st patient to receive the procedure at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital. “I went to bend over and all of the sudden I was dizzy and couldn’t function. My daughter was in the basement turning the on and off switch. I started falling and made some sounds. She said ‘are you OK?’ I said ‘no.’ I don’t remember after that.”

McClurg was taken to the hospital by ambulance and underwent the TAVR procedure. “I had it on a Tuesday and went home the next day,” he said. “It’s fantastic all of the people I’ve associated with before, during and after the operation. I’ll give you all an A+. I was a teacher.”

“We’re thrilled to be able to provide this procedure to patients in our communities in Northern Utah to ensure they have access to the most innovative and advanced heart care possible,” said Eric Lindley, MD, medical director of cardiovascular medicine and heart & vascular services at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital and the Intermountain north area market. “This is a wonderful team effort by so many at the hospital. We’re thankful for the support and the great collaboration to make our heart program a terrific and life-saving resource for the community.” 

Patients who before the procedure had a difficult time walking because of their weak hearts are now jogging or hiking. They attended the celebration to share their experiences and express their gratitude.

“It was a night and day difference,” said Kristi Gagnier, a 58-year-old Ogden resident who underwent the TAVR procedure in September 2023 at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital. “Before the procedure, I could barely take a few steps without being completely out of breath. I was exhausted all the time. My quality of life was not good. Afterward, I felt and feel like a new person. I’m so grateful for this team and so impressed with the care that I received.”

 “For me, this procedure was a miracle,” said McClurg. “I’m so grateful to this team for the technology that helped save my life.” λ