NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Marks 200th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Marks 200th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

The milestone reflects the hospital's success in expanding access to minimally invasive heart care for patients in the New York City public hospital system

Jun 09, 2026

New York, NY - NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue announced a major milestone in its cardiovascular program: the completion of its 200^th minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedure, also known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). The achievement underscores the hospital's continued commitment to delivering advanced, life-saving heart care to all New Yorkers regardless of their ability to pay.

TAVR is used to treat patients with aortic stenosis, a condition in which a heart valve is severely narrowed, affecting the heart's ability to pump blood to the body. Unlike traditional open-heart surgery, the minimally invasive procedure allows physicians to deliver a valve via a catheter, resulting in shorter recovery times and improved outcomes for high-risk patients.

"This milestone demonstrates that cutting-edge care and health equity go hand in hand at Bellevue Hospital," said NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Chief Executive Officer Eric Wei, MD, MBA. "Procedures like TAVR minimize the risks associated with open heart surgery while speeding recovery time for our patients. Our patients deserve access to the best treatments available, and the TAVR program delivers on that promise."

"Reaching 200 TAVRs is a testament to what can be accomplished when a public healthcare system commits to delivering the highest level of cardiovascular care," said Rafael Harari, MD, Director of the Structural Heart Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. "As a safety-net hospital, Bellevue Hospital cares for medically complex and underserved patients. This achievement reflects our strong commitment to ensuring that innovated, life-saving therapies are available to every patient in need, regardless of their circumstances."

"Before the procedure, I was constantly tired and struggling to breathe," said Queens resident Nestor Morales, Bellevue Hospital's 200^th TAVR patient. "Now I have more energy, and I feel like I can get back to living my life. I don't know where I would be without Bellevue Hospital."

In June 2025, Morales presented to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst with worsening shortness of breath and leg swelling. He was diagnosed with liver disease, heart failure, and severe aortic stenosis. He was subsequently transferred to Bellevue Hospital for management of his complex cardiac disease. A close partnership between the two hospitals enabled a rapid and seamless transition of care.

At Bellevue Hospital, Morales underwent a comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary Heart Team, including experts in cardiology, advanced heart failure, cardiac surgery, structural heart disease, and cardiac imaging.

In preparing for the procedure, the Heart Team discovered that Morales had a high risk for coronary obstruction, a rare but potentially fatal complication, requiring an additional specialized technique known as Bioprosthetic/Native Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery obstruction (BASILICA).

Dr. Harari led the team that successfully performed Morales's TAVR procedure in April. Morales was discharged home the very next day. Since the procedure, he has reported a dramatic improvement in his symptoms and has had no recurrent hospitalizations for heart failure.

"Bellevue Hospital gave me a second chance at life at age 53," Morales added at a follow up appointment in late May. "The doctors, nurses, and everyone who helped me have been so caring. I wouldn't go anywhere else."

"At Bellevue Hospital, we take great pride in ensuring that our patients have access to the advanced cardiac services they need," said Norma Keller, MD, Chief of Cardiology at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. "Our TAVR program has been essential for our patients, who often face barriers to specialty care and present with complex cardiovascular conditions."

Since launching in March 2023, Bellevue Hospital's TAVR program has rapidly expanded access to this advanced procedure for patients who might otherwise face significant barriers to care. As a public safety net hospital, Bellevue Hospital treats a uniquely complex patient population, including individuals with multiple comorbidities and limited access to routine healthcare. The TAVR program at Bellevue Hospital provides comprehensive, patient-centered care, including structural heart clinic evaluations and post-operative follow-up to ensure continuity of care.

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America's oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the 851-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with 6,000 employees including highly skilled, interdisciplinary clinical staff. The hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and annually it sees about 110,000 emergency room visits, and more than 520,000 outpatient visits. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Bariatric Surgery; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Children's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services. For more information, visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/locations/bellevue/ and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.