Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare cardiologists and surgeons beat US benchmarks for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement

Outcomes from Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedures at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare were measured against benchmarks based on outcomes from more than 850 US hospitals.

Patients at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare who undergo Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) are enjoying excellent outcomes that typically exceed US benchmarks, an analysis has found.

Just 26% of Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare patients stayed in hospital for longer than three days after a TAVR procedure, exceeding the US benchmark of less than 30%, according to an analysis of 2024 data. New pacemakers were fitted in just 8.5% of cases, which was at the low end of the 7-12% range for the US benchmark. General anesthetic was used in just 28% of cases, beating the benchmark of less than 30%.

TAVR is an important technique used in the fight against heart disease. The minimally invasive procedure involves replacing a faulty aortic valve without the need for open heart surgery.

Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare’s TAVR outcomes were compared with benchmarks drawn from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and American College of Cardiology (ACC)’s TVT Registry™. The registry monitors real-world outcomes of transcatheter valve replacement and repair procedures from more than 850 participating healthcare organizations in the US.

Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare is the only healthcare provider outside the US to participate in the STS/ACC TVT Registry™. Other participants include The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, and hospitals operated by Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic.

“We are driven by data because it holds us accountable,” Dr. Faisal Al Qoofi, Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, said. “Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare’s enrolment in the registry demonstrates our leadership in quality and transparency in cardiovascular care not only in Saudi Arabia, but in the Middle East as a whole.”

The analysis found that in 2024, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare  met or exceeded 11 of 12 STS/ACC TVT Registry™ benchmarks against which it was tested, with strong performance across safety, efficacy, recovery, and follow-up indicators. The results of the analysis were presented to Johns Hopkins Medicine during a recent assessment visit.

Dr. Al Qoofi said: “Our benchmarking results reflect our commitment to delivering safe, evidence-based, patient-centered cardiovascular care. By aligning with global best practices, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare continues to raise the bar in structural heart interventions while ensuring superior outcomes and faster recovery for our patients.”

He added: “We thank our dedicated multidisciplinary heart team for their exceptional performance and continuous pursuit of excellence.”

The aortic valve is a critical part of the heart that links its largest pumping chamber (the left ventricle) with the body’s largest artery (the aorta). When functioning properly, the aortic valve ensures that blood flows smoothly from the left ventricle to the aorta, but not the other way.

Problems can arise when the aortic valve narrows, which restricts blood flow to the aorta. The valve can also weaken over time, which can permit backflow of blood from the aorta to the left ventricle. Patients with aortic valve problems may experience irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, and fatigue, among other symptoms.

The TAVR procedure involves guiding a small tube through one of the patient’s blood vessels to the site of the damaged aortic valve, then passing a replacement valve through the tube and fixing it inside the damaged valve.

Because it is minimally invasive, TAVR results in far fewer incisions than traditional surgery. It also allows patients to recover faster, meaning they spend less time in the hospital, and in less pain. TAVR may be the only option for a patient who is unable to undergo open-heart surgery.

Learn more about TAVR and cardiology services at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare.

Highlights from Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare’s 2024 TAVR metrics

• Length of Stay of Less than 3 Days: 26% (Target: <30%)

• New Pacemaker Rate: 8.5% (Target: 7–12%)

• Use of General Anesthesia: 28% (Target: <30%)

• Home Discharge Rate: 91% (Target: >90%)

• Median STS Risk Score: 4.1 (Target: 3–8)

• Stroke Rate: 1.1% (Target: 1–2%)

• Transfemoral Access Use: 92% (Target: >90%)

• Valve-in-Valve Cases: 6% (Target: 5–10%)

• 1-Year Follow-up Completion: 86% (Target: >85%)