Elizabeth Kapovich, an 83-year-old resident of Hometown, Illinois, recently completed cardiac rehabilitation following a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. The procedure allowed her to begin the new year with improved breathing and energy.
Kapovich initially sought medical attention for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) when doctors discovered she had severe aortic valve stenosis, a condition where calcium buildup narrows the heart’s aortic valve opening and restricts blood flow. "I was out of breath. I was in the hospital for a while, and that kind of set me back, and that’s when they discovered it. The doctor, he said, you have a bad valve," Kapovich recalled.
Her primary care physician referred her to Dr. Anshuman Das, an interventional and structural cardiologist at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. Due to her age and worsening symptoms, Dr. Das recommended TAVR—a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery that is associated with reduced recovery times and lower risk for older patients.
"For many older adults or those with significant comorbidities, TAVR offers an option that was not available merely 10 or 15 years," Dr. Das said. "As people age, they often develop other medical conditions that can make open-heart surgery too risky. TAVR allows us to treat a serious valve problem safely while helping patients return to their lives much sooner."
The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute performs the highest volume of transcatheter and surgical valve procedures in Illinois since conducting its first such procedure as part of a clinical trial in 2008 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
"At Northwestern Medicine, our aim is to deliver compassionate, modern, evidence-based medicine that is convenient and accessible for the patient," Dr. Das added. "Liz is a perfect example of how our heart team at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital collaborates to make a meaningful impact. We like to make a connection with our patients by understanding who they are as a unique individual. This allows us to understand what their goals are with their care and how best we can help."
Kapovich’s son, Ron Koronkowski, has experience working on cardiovascular device development professionally and felt reassured about his mother’s care: "I’ve been involved in working on some novel cardiovascular device developments in my career, mainly in structural heart areas," he said. "It doesn’t come close to home that often, but this sent a chill down my spine. It was like, oh my gosh, this is really going to happen. And on the flip side of that, I felt a high level of confidence that this device is going to do exactly what it’s intended to do. I was totally impressed with Northwestern Medicine’s level of care."
During TAVR procedures like Kapovich's, doctors use catheters inserted through arteries to place new heart valves without removing the old ones—offering seniors quicker recovery times than traditional surgery methods.
"Because the procedure is minimally invasive, many of our patients notice easier breathing and more energy later that same day," Dr. Das explained. "By offering this level of advanced heart valve care right here in the South Suburbs at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, we’re making it possible for patients to receive life‑changing treatment close to home, surrounded by the people who support them."
After her operation and subsequent rehabilitation program completion—where she reported attentive support from staff—Kapovich shared: "I wasn’t out of breath anymore," she said joyously. "They’re so helpful at the rehab. If you need anything, they’re right there, helping you. It’s very nice to know that if you need anything at all, just ask."
Northwestern Medicine operates under parent organization Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (https://news.nm.org/). The health system emphasizes patient-focused care based on compassion and evidence-driven practices (https://news.nm.org/). It also receives national recognition for its humanitarian efforts within communities (https://news.nm.org/) and engages in collaborations advancing clinical research and education (https://news.nm.org/). Howard B. Chrisman serves as president and chief executive officer (https://news.nm.org/).
More information about TAVR procedures at Northwestern Medicine can be found here. For details about Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute services at Palos Hospital visit this link.
