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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... Haggen adds Ashland store to list of closures ... Attacker's no-show at sentencing leaves victim without closure ... Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... Haggen adds Ashland store to list of closures ... Attacker's no-show at sentencing leaves victim without closure ... HEALTH 'Game changer' for heart patients New, less-invasive heart valve replacement surgery in place at Asante Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Sally Robisch has a lot more energy than she did a few months ago. The constant feeling of being worn out is gone. "I just feel happy," says Robisch, 83. "I just feel a lot better. You know, I'm not going to be the one running the marathon or going on the treadmill or all that, but I'm going to be a lot better off than I was." Robisch got a new aortic valve two months ago from a team of cardiac surgeons at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center who used a new procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement — or TAVR. Instead of opening the patient's chest, surgeons using the TAVR approach guide the valve into place through an artery in the top of the leg. The new valve, typically from a cow, is attached to a stainless steel mesh frame with a polyester wrap, then to a tube-like device called a balloon catheter, and inserted into the artery via a small incision. Surgeons guide the new valve through blood vessels until it reaches the aortic valve that needs to be replaced. Once there, the balloon at the catheter's tip crushes the old valve and expands the new one into place. "Don't get me wrong, this is still complicated, it's just much easier on the patient from their standpoint. We don't take anything out. We basically go in and move their valve aside to put this one in," says Angel Cross, Asante Heart Valve Program coordinator. The traditional surgery involves weeks of recovery and a host of physical limitations during the interim. With TAVR, patients are up and moving within days. About 10 Southern Oregon patients have undergone the procedure, including Robisch. Her problems began a few years ago when she started to feel extreme fatigue, especially after walks in the neighborhood around Rogue Valley Manor, where she lives. "It took a long time for this to come on," Robisch says. "We've been living at the Manor for 15 years, and when we first moved in — you know how hilly it is up there — we walked everyplace constantly." At first she chalked the exhaustion up to age. But bit by bit, it got worse. The nurse practitioner she usually meets with at the Manor sent her to get checked out. "They realized I had a problem," Robisch says. "The aortic valve had just worn out from time." Dr. Kent Dauterman, an interventional cardiologist at Asante who heads up TAVR procedures with cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Charles Carmeci, said the procedure is relatively new. Since 2011, the Food & Drug Administration has approved two valve models that can be used, he said. "Frankly, this is a big game changer in how we treat people with valve disease," Dauterman says. "It'll be interesting to see how things evolve over the next five years. The TAVR procedure is for high-risk patients, he adds, including people who are frail or have severe liver or lung disease. Risk of death is about the same as with traditional open valve replacement surgery, and the risk of stroke is slightly higher. The tradeoff is decreased recovery time. "I thought that nobody my age was available for something like this," Robisch says. "Dr. Dauterman explained all of this to me, and it sounded like a piece of cake. And it was." She went in for the surgery on Feb. 12. Recovery was quick. Robisch says she doesn't recall any pain or difficulty following the procedure. "I was just amazed," Robisch says. Her journey isn't over yet. Two days a week, she's in physical therapy using different exercise machines to keep the valve working. She's still taking it easy, but there's ease in the breaths she takes. "It's just very, very slow, which made me happy," Robisch says. Beth Coker, a cardiac rehab supervisor, says the post-op therapy involves exercise and education. It's also a way to keep doctors apprised on how patients are faring. Robisch has been a joy to work with, she says. "It's her positive outlook that's turned her around so quickly," Coker says. "She's just a can-do kind of person." At a recent session, Robisch sat at one of the machines and moved her legs with ease. Hovering nearby, Coker gets updated on how she's doing. "Did you exercise yesterday, missy?" Coker asks. "I walked," Robisch says. "Alright, girlfriend," Coker says. "You keep smiling and keep your legs moving." Robisch does, beaming all the way. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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