NCH Rooney Heart Institute Performs Florida’s First M3 Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement

by Paul Hiltz, NCH President & CEO

Every medical first represents years of preparation, collaboration and an unwavering commitment to advancing patient care. The NCH Rooney Heart Institute recently achieved another significant milestone by becoming the first hospital in Florida to perform the FDA approved SAPIEN M3 Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR), expanding treatment options to patients with severe mitral valve disease.

The procedure was performed by the NCH structural heart team led by Robert J. Cubeddu, MD, President and Brynne and Bob Colletti Endowed Chair of the NCH Rooney Heart Institute, Dee Dee Wang, MD, Section Head of Cardiac Imaging, Robert Pascotto, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, and a multidisciplinary team of interventional cardiologists, cardiac imaging specialists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses and cardiovascular professionals working collaboratively to deliver highly specialized structural heart care.

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The SAPIEN M3 system provides a minimally invasive alternative for patients with symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation who are not candidates for surgery or other transcatheter repair options. The technology represents the first fully percutaneous transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Unlike traditional open-heart surgery, the procedure is performed through a catheter inserted through a vein in the leg, allowing physicians to replace the diseased mitral valve without opening the chest. The innovative docking system creates a stable landing zone for the replacement valve and offers a new treatment pathway for patients who previously had few or no viable options.

This achievement reinforces the NCH Rooney Heart Institute’s reputation as one of the nation’s leading cardiovascular programs. The Institute is home to one of the nation’s most experienced valve programs, bringing together experts in structural heart intervention, advanced cardiac imaging and minimally invasive cardiac surgery led by renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Joseph Lamelas, MD, to provide comprehensive care for patients with complex valvular heart disease.

While advanced technology makes procedures like this possible, it is the coordination of highly specialized physicians, nurses and cardiovascular professionals that transforms innovation into exceptional patient care. This multidisciplinary approach is what enables our teams to perform some of the most sophisticated cardiovascular procedures available today.

At NCH, we continue to invest in groundbreaking technologies, expand nationally recognized specialty programs and attract world-class clinical talent to ensure our community has access to the highest level of care. This procedure is a powerful example of the innovation that defines NCH.

The NCH Rooney Heart Institute offers a comprehensive range of cardiovascular services, including advanced imaging, structural heart interventions, electrophysiology, heart failure management, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular care, and a forthcoming transplant program.

For more information, please visit NCHmd.org/cardiology.