Mundelein woman is the 500th person to receive minimally invasive heart procedure at Advocate Lutheran General

Beverly Tuhy was surprised and a little hesitant upon learning she would need a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, to treat her heart condition.

At 82 years old, she lived a relatively active lifestyle, but found herself frequently exhausted and short of breath. After a series of tests, she was diagnosed with aortic stenosis - a disease in which the aortic valve narrows and restricts blood flow - and was referred to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

From the moment Tuhy walked through the door, the structural heart team calmed her nerves with their level of care, compassion and expertise. She underwent the minimally invasive TAVR procedure in May and returned to her home in Mundelein the next day. Within weeks, she was back on her feet and resuming daily activities with more energy and peace of mind.

On top of improving Tuhy's quality of life, her procedure marked a major milestone: Advocate Lutheran General's 500th TAVR. It was performed by interventional cardiologist Dr. Neal Sawlani, medical director of the structural heart program, who also performed the hospital's very first TAVR in October of 2017.

TAVR uses a catheter to replace a damaged aortic valve, where it expands to full size and immediately begins regulating blood flow. The approach can lower the risk of complications and lead to a faster recovery time compared to open-heart surgery, making it an ideal alternative for many aortic stenosis patients, Dr. Sawlani said.

"The fact that they can repair my heart with no more than an incision is amazing for me. It's a real breakthrough procedure," Tuhy said. "On a large hospital campus, I felt like I had my own little village taking care of me and making me feel comfortable. That makes all the difference."