A North American First: 1,000 sutureless heart valve surgeries

Only six healthcare organizations worldwide have reached this milestone in cardiac care. 

Southlake Health has successfully implanted 1,001 sutureless heart valves, becoming the first hospital in North America to meet this major milestone using the Perceval valve. The Perceval valve is the only fully sutureless heart valve currently used in aortic valve replacement surgery around the world.  

Only six healthcare organizations worldwide have implanted 1,000 sutureless heart valves. Southlake is the only hospital in North America to reach this milestone, a testament to the dedication to providing leading edge cardiac care through its Regional Cardiac Care Program. All other organizations to reach this milestone are in Europe. 

The 1,000th implant was completed by Dr. Teoh, a renowned cardiovascular surgeon and Master Proctor of the Perceval sutureless heart valve training program. Dr. Teoh’s significant experience with this technology began in 2011 when he participated in the first-ever Perceval implant in North America at Sunnybrook. His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in establishing Southlake as a global leader in sutureless valve technology. 

The same day as the 1,000th procedure, Stacy O’Blenes, MD, the Division Head of Cardiac Surgery at Southlake Health, also implanted the 1,001st Perceval sutureless heart valve. 

The Regional Cardiac Care Program was an early adopter of the Perceval valve, an innovative heart valve made from bovine pericardium that is used in aortic valve replacement surgery. The valve’s sutureless and collapsible design enables minimally invasive access and simplifies surgical implantation to support faster recovery times and reduce the risk of post-operative complications when compared to traditional valve replacement surgeries. Southlake has become a recognized leader in the field, offering patients access to this innovative procedure, closer to home.