New Heart Procedure at St. Bernards Brings ‘Life-Changing Option’ for Patients with Limited Choices

St. Bernards Medical Center has successfully performed the first minimally invasive mitral valve repair in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri, giving new hope to heart patients at high risk for traditional open heart surgery.

St. Bernards physicians used a mechanical clip device and delivery system called MitraClip™ to help fix the mitral valve in the heart after it failed to close properly. This condition, called mitral valve regurgitation, can make people feel tired, short of breath or weak. Implanting a MitraClip device through a minimally-invasive procedure, known as mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) therapy, helps the valve close. If successful, patients see improved heart function and regurgitation symptoms. In addition, they can avoid open-heart surgery, minimizing the risks that come with these procedures while also easing recovery from surgery. In fact, after a successful MitraClip procedure, most patients only stay in the hospital one night before going home.

“MitraClip is truly a game changer for our community,” said St. Bernards cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Jay K. Bhama. “It enhances options for patients who may not be a candidate for open heart surgery and gives them an opportunity to feel better and live longer.”

St. Bernards interventional cardiologist Dr. Jack McKee described the procedure as a “milestone” that brings the latest cardiac treatments to the region.

“Mitral TEER therapy offers a life-changing option for patients who previously had limited choices. They now have access to the latest medical advancements close to home,” said Dr. McKee.

Per recommendations from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology, St. Bernards completed the procedure using a multidisciplinary group of specialists known a “heart team.” It adopted this approach nearly a decade ago by including heart surgeons, interventional cardiologists and a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist who all work together to choose the best treatment for each patient.

St. Bernards’ first MitraClip heart team included:

• Dr. Jay K. Bhama, cardiovascular surgeon;
• Dr. Amer Hawatmeh, interventional cardiologist;
• Dr. Jack McKee, interventional cardiologist;
• Dr. Devi Nair, cardiac electrophysiologist; and
• Dr. Daniel Thrower, cardiothoracic anesthesiologist.

The procedure took place in one of two new hybrid heart labs inside the St. Bernards HeartCare Center. These labs are designed for special procedures like the MitraClip implantation.

Dr. Amer Hatwatmeh expressed his gratitude to the Heart Team physicians and the highly-skilled clinical support staff in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

“We are thankful for our skilled teams,” said Dr. Hawatmeh. “They provide great care every day, and their work shows how we keep bringing the best care right here to our region.”