Retired Airport Construction Engineer Lands New Heart Valve

As a former field engineer and inspector for a runway expansion and other projects around the Cedar Rapids airport, precision matters to Gerald Hingtgen. It’s no wonder when it comes to his health, he has taken the same approach. Hingtgen dealt with a heart murmur his whole life and regularly saw a cardiologist for careful monitoring. Eventually, he required a new aortic valve.
“I had been seeing Dr. Langager (Todd Langager, MD, UnityPoint Health cardiologist) every year, then every six months, then more often,” Hingtgen says. “Each time, he’d do various tests, but I started ‘failing’ them.”
Dr. Langager worked with his colleagues at St. Luke’s Valve Clinic to have Hingtgen evaluated. The group includes multiple cardiology specialists who review the patient’s case together and recommend the best course of action.
‘Revolutionary’ TAVR Procedure Charts New Course
“Mr. Hingtgen had aortic stenosis – calcification and narrowing of the aortic valve,” explains Nidhi Madan, MD, structural cardiologist. “This can result from underlying conditions such as a heart murmur. His aortic stenosis progressed to a point where he began experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath. We ruled out an arterial blockage and pinpointed the symptoms were related to his valve, so we performed a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).”
TAVR is a procedure done via catheter, where the physician replaces the patient’s valve with a prosthetic one. Because open heart surgery isn’t involved, patients go home sooner and recover faster.
Dr. Madan says TAVR has revolutionized lifetime management of aortic stenosis. It provides an option for patients who may not be candidates for surgery due to age or other health issues. As a result, St. Luke’s cardiologists have been able to help more patients.
Doctor, Patient Advise Early Check-in for a Healthy Heart
“Today, aortic stenosis can be well diagnosed and treated,” Dr. Madan says. “It’s important for patients to pay attention to symptoms and see a doctor regularly. If they have a heart murmur or family history of heart disease, they should contact a cardiologist.”
In addition to chest pain and shortness of breath, other symptoms of aortic stenosis can include dizziness, fatigue, fainting, heart palpitations and swelling in the feet and ankles. If left untreated, it can lead to heart failure.
“Over the years, if the heart struggles against aortic stenosis, the heart muscle can become weak,” Dr. Madan says. “Before that happens, we like to intervene to give patients a better chance of survival and improved quality of life.”
Like Dr. Madan, Hingtgen advocates for others to be vigilant with their health care. Hingtgen’s father had a heart murmur as well, which eventually led to his death. That’s what prompted him to go to St. Luke’s Heart Care Clinic. He had no reservations when they suggested a TAVR.
“I’m happy I got a second chance at life,” Hingtgen says. “Dr. Madan is great; [St. Luke’s heart team] did a thorough job. I was impressed with their care.”
St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular Expansion on Final Descent
St. Luke’s Heart Care team recently surpassed 700 TAVR procedures since introducing and performing the first one in Cedar Rapids in 2016. St. Luke’s is the only TAVR-certified facility in Iowa, as designated by the American college of Cardiology. In addition, the hospital is in the final phase of its $25 million Heart & Vascular Expansion project, which will include state-of-the-art technology and a hybrid operating room (OR).
A Hybrid OR includes all equipment and space needed for both structural procedures and open heart surgery. All structural procedures, such as TAVR, are done in partnership with a cardiothoracic surgeon. The Hybrid OR will allow the team to transition to open heart surgery if complications arise, without the need to transport the patient to a different location. New equipment will include an upgraded X-ray system that provides better image quality and uses less radiation, providing a safer patient experience.