Serious heart problems kept one senior from dancing with his wife. But thanks to a procedure he received at White Plains Hospital, he’s back in the ballroom again.
Charlie Medlicott, 92, is a true Renaissance man. He worked in insurance for 50 years, served in the Army, and even designed his own house. His favorite pastime these days, though, is almost certainly dancing; it’s how he met his wife, Ann.
Last year, however, he lost the spring in his step. “I’d only be able to walk five or six feet, and then have to sit down,” he says. Ann noticed the change as well. “His breathing was labored and a real concern,” she remembers. Anxious to determine what was wrong, Medlicott visited his cardiologist — Dr. Duane Bryan of Hudson Valley-based Highland Medical Group, part of the Montefiore Health System in Rockland County — for an examination.
A heart ultrasound revealed that Medlicott’s aortic valve, which controls blood flow from the heart to the aorta, was severely narrowed. The condition, known as aortic valve stenosis, makes it difficult for blood to circulate throughout the body, causing fatigue, shortness of breath and possibly heart pain and fainting. Dr. Bryan quickly referred Medlicott to The Montefiore Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital and its director, Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Azeem Latib.
A serious problem, an advanced solution
“When I met Charlie, I was very concerned,” said Dr. Latib. New tests indicated that Medlicott not only had aortic valve stenosis, but also that one of his heart’s main arteries was almost completely blocked, severely reducing his heart function. Luckily, Medlicott had come to the right place to get the treatment he needed. White Plains Hospital’s Structural Heart Program offers the most up-to-date, minimally invasive procedures for even the most complex heart valve conditions. Patients benefit from comprehensive care provided by a coordinated heart team consisting of expert interventional cardiologists teamed with highly experienced cardiac surgeons.
White Plains Hospital also offers open-heart surgery, but given Medlicott’s advanced age and the weak state of his heart, Dr. Latib and the other cardiac specialists felt it would be too much for him to withstand. Instead, he would undergo a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive procedure that involves placing a new valve in the heart through a catheter inserted into a blood vessel in the groin. A month later, the team performed an angioplasty and stenting of the blocked artery to help restore blood flow.
“TAVR was really invented to address an unmet need. There are so many patients out there with a very tight aortic valve that isn’t opening but surgery is not an option for them, either because they are too old or have too many diseases that make their surgical risk very high. With the minimally invasive TAVR, I can put a valve into someone’s heart safely, without opening their chest or cutting them in any way. The procedure was the only option to give Charlie a new lease on life.”
— Dr. Azeem Latib
A "miracle" procedure
Just a few days after their first meeting, Dr. Latib performed the TAVR procedure. Very quickly after receiving his new valve, Medlicott was more like his old self. “It was like a miracle,” he marveled. Dr. Latib was extremely pleased with his improvement. “What’s been incredible is how impactful TAVR has been on patients’ lives,” he explained. “They feel better immediately, particularly since the procedure is minimally invasive and there’s no surgical wound to recover from.”
The procedure not only restored Charlie’s strength; it saved his life.
Programmed for success
At Medlicott’s age, patients benefit from undergoing cardiac rehabilitation, a program that improves cardiovascular health. “We use Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, which is part of the Montefiore Health System,” Dr. Latib said. “What’s been exciting for me being part of Montefiore is that it stretches out over every part of a patient’s care. We can ensure that patients get all their care through our system, from beginning to end.”
Charlie’s case is just one example of the remarkable care provided by White Plains Hospital’s Structural Heart program, Dr. Latib noted. “I’ve been amazed at how our patients have adopted and supported this program. They have been so delighted by their results that they become our biggest advocates.”
Dancing to the beat again
“We realized things were going well when Charlie canceled his follow-up appointment with us because he felt so good that he wanted to take his wife on a cruise to Europe,” Dr. Latib recalled, thrilled at the impact of the treatments. “It was so exciting to see someone who previously felt he didn’t have long to live now feeling so good that he would jump on a cruise.”
That was only the start of what Medlicott was able to do again. He’s riding his tractor, making repairs around his property, and of course, he and his wife are up for a little cha-cha or merengue once more. Thanks to the help he found at White Plains Hospital, Charlie’s back on his dancing feet.
Learn more about White Plains Hospital’s Structural Heart Program.