Aurora St. Luke’s reaches heart surgery milestone, ranks 4th in nation for TAVR implantations

MILWAUKEE – World-renowned cardiac experts at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center reached a remarkable heart surgery milestone Thursday, May 15, completing their 5,000th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The minimally invasive procedure is used to treat heart valve disease without open-heart surgery. According to 2024 implant volume data, Aurora St. Luke’s ranks fourth among all TAVR implanting sites in the United States.

During a TAVR procedure, a cardiothoracic surgeon uses a catheter to guide through blood vessels to access the heart and replace a diseased aortic valve with a man-made valve. Because of its design, there’s a lower risk of major complications and a faster recovery time compared to open-heart surgery. This makes TAVR an ideal option for older adults with life-threatening heart disease, like aortic stenosis.

“I’m proud of our innovative, highly specialized cardiologists who deliver excellent care, time and time again. From the first TAVR procedure to the 5,000th, our team has leveraged their knowledge and expertise to help patients regain their heart’s function, their energy, and the lives they love,” said Jennifer Schomburg, president of Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center and Southeast Wisconsin Area.

Aurora St. Luke’s was highly involved in the clinical trials that led to TAVR becoming FDA approved. Now, the procedure is used throughout the world. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Aurora St. Luke’s heart program among the best in the country.

“We’ve continued to grow and develop the TAVR program for more than 15 years. While we’re honored to mark this tremendous milestone, we’re eager to find more ways to improve lives, and restore hearts, of those in our community,” said Dr. Tanvir Bajwa, director of interventional cardiology and co-director of the valve clinic at Aurora St. Luke’s.

Aurora St. Luke’s is the heart of Aurora Health Care’s cardiovascular program. It’s where patients with complex conditions receive innovative, effective, state-of-the-art care. It’s also home to groundbreaking clinical trials and cardiovascular research. Aurora St. Luke’s is the only hospital in Wisconsin with a 24/7 on-site heart-care team committed to providing the highest standards of quality and care.

About Aurora Health Care
Aurora Health Care is the largest health system in Wisconsin and a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. The state’s largest private employer, the system serves patients across 18 hospitals, more than 70 pharmacies and more than 150 sites of care. Aurora Health Care, in addition to Advocate Health Care in Illinois and Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States. Committed to redefining care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.