Expanded Options for Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

Mercy Health - Cincinnati, which provides advanced, quality care with compassion in your neighborhood through its care network, announces that Mercy Health Physician and cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Donald Buckley, MD has replaced the aortic valves of three patients of Mercy Health – The Heart Institute with the INTUITY Elite valve system. He performed the first procedure using the new valve system at Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital in March.

“This is another arrow in the quiver of the valve surgery program at Mercy Health – Cincinnati hospitals,” notes Dr. Buckley. “Depending on what’s best for the patient, Mercy Health has a range of minimally-invasive and surgical options to treat patients with aortic valve disease.”

Aortic valve disease is a serious health condition that occurs when the valve between the main pumping chamber of the heart, the left ventricle, and the body’s primary artery, the aorta, doesn't work correctly. In some cases, known as aortic stenosis, the flaps of the valve stiffen, narrowing the valve and blocking blood flow to the body.

Surgery is necessary to either repair the valve or replace it if it’s too damaged for repair.

The INTUITY valve features a new supporting apparatus that enables Dr. Buckley to secure it in place with a balloon instead of sutures, which offers significant advantages on previous models.

“It’s faster going in so patients spend less time on the heart lung machine. Because we can deploy the valve without underlying sutures, it offers better hemodynamics, or blood flow, which is better for the patient,” says Dr. Buckley.

Patients undergoing the replacement will typically spend four days in the hospital but they likely will notice results before they are discharged home.

“Patients with aortic stenosis in particular will notice the difference quickly, usually experiencing a strong improvement in their symptoms within two days,” says Dr. Buckley.

Dr. Buckley is part of Mercy Health’s cardiovascular surgery team, which offers coronary artery bypass grafting, valve procedures - including repair and replacement, transcatheter valve replacements and aortic surgery, aneurysm repair, surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation and treatment of pericardial disorders.

He practices from Mercy Health - Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons, Rookwood, located at 4030 Smith Road, Suite 300, Cincinnati, OH 45209. Please call 513-421-3494 for more information or to make an appointment.