Retired Peterlee nurse praises ‘revolutionary’ heart surgery at Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital
A retired nurse became one of the first patients in the region to undergo a “revolutionary heart procedure”.
Valerie Wells, from Peterlee, had a tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, to treat a “leaky” valve in her heart.
She said: “Leading up to Christmas, I was wrapping presents with family and I was thinking, ‘this is the last time I’m going to be doing this’.
"I could barely walk three or four steps without having to stop to get my breath back.”
Valerie was discharged the day after her procedure and is already feeling the positive effects.
She said: “Before having this new procedure, I didn’t have a life. That’s how I felt. I don’t think that way now, That’s the difference it’s made to me.”
Cardiology consultant Dr Paul Williams said: “TEER represents a major step forward in the treatment of tricuspid valve disease for patients who would otherwise face very limited options.”