The Prairie Heart Institute at HSHS St. John’s Hospital recently celebrated a milestone achievement in minimally invasive heart surgeries. According to the hospital, over 500 TAVR (trans-catheter aortic valve replacement) surgeries have been performed. At a press conference Feb. 14 at the Dove Conference Center, patients and doctors touted the success of these life-saving procedures. “These minimally invasive technologies are all about partnership and team-based care which enables us to serve a wider range of patients more effectively, drawing on our unique resources,” said Dr. Marc Shelton, president of Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants. “The proven success of our cardiovascular teams, our commitment to quality and excellence in patient care makes these procedures a natural fi t.” TAVR substitutes an aortic valve that isn’t properly opening. The surgery is available to patients who otherwise would not be candidates for traditional and more invasive valve replacement procedures. “A minimally invasive approach provides patients with a faster recovery and less pain,” said Dr. Raja Gopaldas, who has performed over 100 cardiac surgeries. “With minimally invasive surgery, patients become active a lot faster, thus avoiding the complications of inactivity after the traditional surgery.”