Author: michaelbenz_md

JCMC is the only hospital in Hudson County to offer the procedure JERSEY CITY, NJ – November 8, 2021 – Jersey City Medical Center (JCMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, has expanded its extensive cardiovascular program with an advanced, less-invasive surgical procedure to repair damaged aortic valves – known as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The procedure is indicated for older people with severe aortic stenosis, a potentially fatal condition in which the opening of the aortic heart valve narrows, blocking the flow of blood to the body. JCMC joins three other RWJBH facilities in performing TAVR and represents the highest volume system in the …

Jersey City Medical Center (JCMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is among few world-class facilities in the region to use a highly specialized approach for a cardiac procedure. While the femoral approach is the most common way to access the heart for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), recent advancements have introduced alternative access sites. One such innovation is the carotid artery approach, a highly specialized technique where a catheter is inserted through the carotid artery in the neck. “Traditionally, the femoral artery in the groin is the preferred access point for TAVR,” said Kimberly Skelding, MD, Division Chief of Cardiovascular Services at …

Jersey City Medical Center (JCMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, completed its 100th TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) procedure. The Medical Center is the sole full-service heart hospital and the only provider of TAVR in Hudson County. Michael Benz, M.D., Director of TAVR and the Structural Heart Program at JCMC, performed the milestone 100th procedure. “We have completed 100 TAVR procedures with an impeccable record of zero mortality and a lower risk of complications. TAVR is a life-saving procedure for patients 65 and older with aortic valve problems, commonly presenting with chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting,” Benz said. He …