St John of God Subiaco Hospital celebrates 500th life-changing TAVI procedure

St John of God Subiaco Hospital has reached a major milestone in cardiac care, successfully performing its 500th transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure.

18 Mar 2025

This achievement confirms the hospital’s position as a centre of excellence in innovative, minimally invasive heart treatments.

TAVI provides a lifesaving alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve narrows and restricts blood flow from the heart. By replacing the diseased valve via a catheter-based approach, patients experience symptom relief and improved quality of life, with a shorter hospital admission.

Five medical specialists are accredited to perform TAVI at the hospital, including Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Head of Department Associate Professor (A/Prof) Jurgen Passage, and Interventional Cardiologists Dr Eric Yamen, Dr Michael Muhlmann, Dr Kevin Chung and Dr Cara Barnes.

These specialists are supported by the hospital’s dedicated TAVI Team, led by TAVI Coordinator Rob Lampard. Comprising highly-experienced nurses and allied health professionals, the team ensures seamless patient care by providing thorough pre-procedural education and support, overseeing hospital stays and care, and facilitating comprehensive aftercare.

A/Prof Passage highlighted the significance of the milestone and said that reaching 500 TAVI procedures is a testament to the hospital’s commitment to delivering world-class cardiac care.

“This technique has transformed the treatment of heart valve disease, allowing us to help more patients regain their health and independence with minimal downtime,” he said.

TAVI procedures are performed in catheterisation laboratories (CATH Labs) - specialised procedure rooms equipped with advanced imaging and interventional technology that allow cardiac specialist doctors to perform minimally invasive heart procedures.

As part of its commitment to advancing cardiac care, St John of God Subiaco Hospital continues to invest in its world-class facilities. The hospital currently has two state-of-the-art CATH Labs — the first was upgraded last year, and the second is undergoing a major upgrade this year.

In addition, a dedicated Heart Centre is being introduced within the hospital’s new eight-storey clinical building, which is part of Stage Three of the hospital’s major redevelopment project.

These investments ensure that the hospital remains at the forefront of cardiovascular innovation, providing patients access to the latest technology and expertise in heart care.