Sentara Heart Hospital replaces valve for one of the oldest TAVR patients on record

At 103 years old, Katherine Xefteris is still doing what she has always done: living life on her own terms. She is a longtime Virginia Beach resident, Navy wife, mother of four, and a woman devoted to her faith, family, and friends. Katherine enjoys attending church, dining out with her loved ones, having her hair and nails done, working puzzles, and the occasional game of bingo.

Her family affectionately refers to themselves as "Team Xefteris" and each member plays a vital role in her care. Their obvious love and dedication are a testament to Mrs. X, as she is often called. In 2023, when she was 100, Katherine's family noticed a change in her health and knew they needed help.

For years, her cardiovascular care has been guided by Dr. Deepak Talreja, Sentara's clinical chief of cardiology, and the Xefteris team, made up of her son, Con, daughter, Diane, and caregiver of 10 years, Donna.

"She was experiencing symptoms of heart failure: fatigue, difficulty with everyday activities, and swelling in her legs," Dr. Talreja said.

Katherine was evaluated and treated with medication for her symptoms, but she found only modest relief, and at 101, she returned to Dr. Talreja's office. This time he performed a balloon valvuloplasty, a minimally invasive procedure designed to temporarily widen her narrowed aortic valve.

The procedure made a significant difference initially, but about six months later, heart failure indicators came back. That left Dr. Talreja and "Team Xefteris" to discuss another option.

As Katherine was now 102, any additional treatment came with appropriate reluctance and understandable caution, but another immeasurable factor guided her clinicians: Katherine's extraordinary zest for life and her determination to keep doing what she loves. That determination led the decision to move forward with a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR.

A TAVR is a procedure performed through a catheter, typically inserted through an artery in the leg, to replace the narrowed aortic valve. When the TAVR possibility was mentioned, Katherine's answer was unequivocal: "Do the operation. Just do it."

Her family was not surprised at all. Katherine's son, Con, said his mother is strong and courageous. "She continues to amaze me and has throughout her life."

Diane, her daughter, also never doubted her mom's ability to face this new challenge, sharing, "She has always been fearless, outspoken, and resilient."

The minimally invasive procedure took place in August 2026 at Sentara Heart Hospital. It went smoothly with no complications. And the results were immediate.

The pain, shortness of breath, and fainting episodes that had affected her disappeared. Her energy returned, and she was feeling much more like her feisty self. As a matter of fact, just four days after the procedure, Katherine was out having lunch with her family.

At age 102, Katherine appears to be one of the most mature patients documented to undergo a TAVR. Her experience illustrates an increasingly important consideration: age alone does not tell the whole story. Katherine's medical team carefully considered the risks and potential benefits of intervention.

"The definition of 'older' continues to evolve, and when we're caring for a centenarian, we have to be thoughtful about balancing risks and benefits," said Dr. Talreja. "We looked beyond Mrs. Xefteris' age and evaluated her overall health, her resilience, and most importantly, her goals. She told us she wanted to live longer and feel better doing it. Given her remarkable energy and determination, we felt this intervention offered her the best opportunity to achieve those goals."

Without treatment, her worsening valve disease and heart failure symptoms would have continued to cause limitations and diminish her overall quality of life. As a result of the successful procedure, a misfunctioning aortic valve will not be what slows Katherine down.

The decision to pursue the TAVR was not simply about treating a heart valve, however. It was about preserving her ability to live each day to the fullest and to continue making memories. For "Team Xefteris," not only is the outcome worth commemorating, but it gave an additional reason for celebration as Mrs. X marked her 103rd birthday in September.

Katherine Xefteris continues to show her family, friends, and caregivers that growing older does not necessarily mean giving up the things that bring joy and purpose. For her, there is still church on Sunday, lunch with family, a puzzle to solve and, if she has anything to say about it, maybe a little dancing.