Minimally invasive heart procedures restore Beacon patient’s energy, active lifestyle
Audrey Mather
After reaching her 80s, Audrey Mather faced a critical turning point. The congestive heart failure she “inherited” from her father had reached a stage where traditional treatments were no longer enough.
Would she need risky open-heart surgery, or was there another way? Dr. Adil Wani and his exceptional team with Beacon’s Structural Heart Program would offer cutting-edge solutions and advanced procedures that would keep her heartbeat strong and transform her life.
Heart valve troubles
Audrey has been managing her heart failure for a number of years. When her previous cardiologist retired, he referred her to Dr. Wani, interventional cardiologist at Beacon Medical Group Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists RiverPointe, to discuss the MitraClip procedure. “I love Dr. Wani!” she says. “He takes time to explain things and ask questions and listen. He treats you like he would his mother.”
The MitraClip is an innovative device used to repair leaky heart valves. When a valve is weak and doesn’t close all the way, blood flows backward, which means the heart has to work harder. The device, implanted during a minimally invasive procedure, helps the heart’s valve close more completely so the heart is more efficient.
As someone who already has heart failure, Audrey needed relief from the additional stress on her heart. After several tests, Dr. Wani confirmed that she was a good candidate for a MitraClip procedure to repair her mitral valve. The procedure is performed through a small incision in the groin.
“MitraClip is one of the minimally invasive options available to treat a leaky mitral valve,” Dr. Wani says. ”It is fascinating how a small amount of reduction in a leaky valve leads to significant improvement in the quality of life.”
Audrey marvels that not long ago, she would have needed open heart surgery. Instead, Dr. Wani placed the MitraClip via a catheter. “It was no big deal. Just a piece of cake,” she recalls. She experienced no side effects and regained a lot of energy after the procedure. “It was very, very successful. I’m forever grateful.”
Dr. Adil Wani
An alternative to blood thinners
Less than a year later, she and Dr. Wani discussed another procedure. This time, Audrey’s goal was to stop taking a strong blood thinning medication intended to help prevent a stroke. The Watchman, a device about the size of a quarter, closes off a part of the heart where blood clots often form, significantly reducing the risk of stroke.
“Blood thinners are the first line treatment to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, they are a double-edged sword,” Dr. Wani explains. “Long-term use of blood thinners puts people at cumulative risk of bleeding. Watchman is a well-established and well-studied minimally invasive alternative in patients who do not tolerate blood thinners.”
A specialized team of cardiologists at Elkhart General Hospital, including Dr. Wani, performed the minimally invasive procedure in December. Audrey was back home the same day. Her only restrictions after the procedure were to avoid driving for 24 hours, due to the anesthesia, and avoid lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk for several days.
Delighted that she has already switched to a milder blood thinner, Audrey will soon be able to stop taking prescription blood thinners altogether. “After that, it will just be baby aspirin for the rest of my life,” she says with relief.
Building a strong future for her heart
There were several months between these advanced procedures, during which Audrey chose to participate in Elkhart General Hospital’s heart therapy program “to get my strength back and help my heart,” she says.
“The program was wonderful. They teach you all about caring for your heart, as well as putting you through physical therapy. It was worth every moment. Plus, you meet lots of nice people!”
Dr. Wani says that cardiac rehab has been shown in multiple studies to prevent long-term problems related to heart disease. “The program at Beacon is a 12-week comprehensive program that provides tremendous support for cardiac healing,” he says. The program includes a structured exercise program, education on healthy habits, medication management, stress reduction and more.
With her renewed energy and vitality, 85-year-old Audrey is back to a busy schedule that features church groups, women’s clubs and keeping track of her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren – a vibrant lifestyle that’s still possible because of the exceptional heart care she received.
“Everybody at Elkhart General Hospital has just been so kind and wonderful,” she says. “I always feel confident I’m going to get the best care.”
Learn more
Beacon Heart, Vascular and Stroke care leads the way in local cardiovascular care. With specialists located in South Bend and Elkhart performing procedures like WATCHMAN, MitraClip and TAVR, there’s no need to travel far for the latest treatment. Our team works together for the patient. From surgical specialists to care coordinators, the team puts heart and soul into everything they do.
