Nearly 90 and Still Ready for Adventure

TAVR Procedure Resolves Patient’s Life-Threatening Aortic Stenosis

PIH Health patient Vernon Tutterow and his wife and dogs.

Today, Vernon is back to doing all the things he loves—monthly camping trips and traveling in his RV with his wife and dogs. With his heart valve repaired, Vernon can look forward to many more adventures ahead.

Other than some arthritis and high blood pressure, 89-year-old Vernon Tutterow was always relatively healthy. Thanks to his good health, he and his wife were living the good life, enjoying their RV club and regular camping trips with their two dogs.
But in the spring of 2023, Vernon started noticing changes. During one camping trip, he felt some shortness of breath and tightening in his chest, but the feeling passed.

When he got home, things got worse. He fell and hit his head, causing a bruise, so he went to see his primary care doctor. After reviewing all of Vernon’s symptoms, the doctor performed a number of tests including an echocardiogram, which revealed a larger problem—severe aortic stenosis—narrowing of the aortic valve restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. Without treatment, it can lead to heart failure.

Vernon was referred to PIH Health Cardiologist Katrine Zhiroff MD, who recommended a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

“Vernon was an excellent candidate for the TAVR procedure because his age put him at high risk for surgery, yet he desperately needed a valve replacement,” said Dr. Zhiroff. “With the TAVR procedure, we use a catheter to insert a new valve inside the existing one, making this procedure much less invasive than open-heart surgery.”

Two weeks later, Vernon had his TAVR procedure at PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, which repaired the valve and helped him return to health. The procedure was not only successful, it was relatively quick. Since it was done on an outpatient basis, Vernon went home within 24 hours.

“I never had any pain at all and I wasn’t even sore afterward,” said Vernon. “I’m very thankful for Dr. Zhiroff who is an excellent doctor.”

Today, Vernon is back to doing all the things he loves— monthly camping trips and traveling in his RV with his wife and dogs. With his heart valve repaired, Vernon can look forward to many more adventures ahead.

For more information, visit PIHHealth.org/HeartCare