St. Luke's is the first in the region and among the first group of hospitals in the country to implant a smaller and more refined second generation transcatheter aortic valve that was approved by the FDA last month.

Last week, St. Luke's University Hospital Bethlehem cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists successfully performed two Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement cases, placing the new valve into patients who were not candidates for the first generation valve, said Raymond Durkin, chief of cardiology.The valve is manufactured by Edwards Lifesciences and is the Sapien XT model.For patients who have been deemed inoperable or at high surgical risk for traditional open-heart surgery, TAVR was a ground-breaking option two years ago that allows the diseased heart valve to be replaced without open-heart surgery for the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.This next-generation, lower-profile system will allow for the treatment of more patients, said Edwards Lifesciences."We are so pleased and proud to be among the country's leaders in partnering with Edwards Lifesciences to provide this next generation of valves to our patients," Durkin said. "Patients who were not candidates for the first generation of transcatheter valves are now able to receive this life-saving surgery."Stephen Olenchock, St. Luke's chief of cardiothoracic surgery, said, "TAVR surgery provides relief for patient's symptoms, improves overall quality of life and increases longevity. We are honored to be able to serve more patients with a better quality and longer life with the aid of the newest technology available. This is definitely a benefit to our patients, their families and loved ones and the community."About St. Luke's Heart Valve Center:St. Luke's University Health Network earned the designation as one of the nation's Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals by Thomson Reuters the only hospital in the region to earn this distinction. To earn this recognition, St. Luke's has among the best cardiac surgery outcomes in the nation.