Cardiology Associates Expands Structural Heart Services to Baldwin County Performing the First Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Procedure at Thomas Hospital
September 20, 2021 (Fairhope, Alabama) Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Stan Thornton of Cardiology Associates, performed the first minimally invasive Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement procedure (TAVR) in Baldwin County. Dr. Thornton, a cardiologist with Cardiology Associates, is experienced in performing interventional procedures to treat both aortic stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation, having performed over 300 structural heart procedures in Mobile prior to relocating earlier this year to join the Cardiology Associates’ team in Fairhope and Foley.
TAVR has been available in the area since 2011, but is now available for the first time on the Eastern Shore. The procedure was performed in the catherization lab at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, Alabama. Dr. Thornton, using a Medtronic Evolut Pro System Transcatheter Aortic Valve, was assisted by Dr. Trey Pluscht of IMC-Cardio Thoracic & Vascular Surgical Associates.
Since 2011, the team at Cardiology Associates has performed over 1,500 structural heart procedures including transcatheter therapies for heart valve replacements, repairs for aortic stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation, isolation of the left atrial appendage to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib), and closures for atrial septal defects and patent foram ovale, commonly known as a “hole in the heart.”
Cardiology Associates is a progressive, growth-oriented practice of 29 cardiologists and 20 advanced practice providers with five full time locations in Mobile, Fairhope, and Foley, Alabama and four outreach clinics in Jackson, Chatom, and Atmore, Alabama and Lucedale, Mississippi. Founded in 1985, Cardiology Associates is a private cardiology practice that consists of physicians representing all sub-specialties within cardiology including clinical, interventional, electrophysiology (EP), peripheral vascular, heart failure, structural and pediatric cardiology. The group has long been recognized as the leader in cardiovascular services in Mobile, Fairhope, Foley and the surrounding areas, and remains at the forefront of today’s most advanced treatments and procedures. From a size perspective, Cardiology Associates is the market share leader and works closely with four top healthcare systems.
Cardiology Associates currently provides the most advanced interventional services in the region, with specific expertise in cardiac and peripheral intervention, chronic total occlusion, and comprehensive structural heart. The
interventional program is supported by the group’s advanced imaging platform which consists of the area’s only dedicated Cardiac PET scanners and an ultrafast CT scanner for cardiac and peripheral vascular imaging. With the goal of providing leading edge cardiovascular care to a metropolitan area of over 600,000 people, Cardiology Associates is uniquely positioned for continued growth and expansion. For more information about Cardiology Associates, visit our website at cardassoc.com or call (800) 842-4009.
