POCATELLO — Two of Portneuf Medical Center's top surgeons shared information about innovative techniques at a recent community leadership panel meeting held at PMC.

    Dr. Jacob DeLaRosa provided a slideshow and explanation for a new percutaneous heart valve procedure being used at PMC. Dr. Aaron Altenburg, the director of orthopedics at PMC discussed advancements in total knee replacements.

    In addition, nurse educator Anne MacLachlan explained the new Alaris pumps being used at PMC. The switch over from old mobile delivery stations at PMC represents an investment of about $1.4 million “to provide safer care to patients.”

    According to Dr. DeLaRosa the percutaneous heart valve replacement or PHVR is an emerging, catheter-based technology that allows for implantation of a prosthetic valve without open heart surgery.

    The heart is accessed by a catheter that is run from the patient's thigh up into the aortic valve of the heart. The procedure allows the surgeon to insert the new valve without splitting the breast bone and spreading the ribs to gain access.

    “It's very cutting edge,” DeLaRosa said.

    One of the major advantages over traditional heart surgery is the patient recovers much more quickly, according to the PMC surgeon. DeLaRosa has scheduled his first patients for the procedure this week.

    “This is a game changer in the world of cardiac surgery,” DeLaRosa said. “We'll be the first rural program.”

    When it comes to joint replacement, Dr. Altenburg shared good news with the leadership panel.

    Altenburg received extensive orthopedic training at the Mayor Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He came to PMC and established its Total Joint Center one year ago. He said PMC has treated 700 patients who needed joint replacements this past year and said the hospital achieved “a 99 percent patient satisfaction score.”

    By replacing damaged hips and knees, Altenburg said the hospital is able to provide people with a better quality of life.

    “We're actually able to give people a new lease on life,” he said.

    The doctor said hip replacement technology has resulted in the desired situation where patients forget they even had surgery because of good mobility and no pain. He said challenges remain to create a “forgotten knee.”

    Altenburg said advancements in total knee arthroplasty may achieve that goal in the near future. One of the advancements he shared with the panel is a new artificial knee design that allows adjustments in the arc of motion instead of relying on a simple circle.

    The new artificial knees come in different sizes to try to match the original anatomy of the patient.

    “We can literally dial this knee into a millimeter,” Altenburg said.

    Nurse trainer MacLachlan showed the panel the various parts of the new Alaris pump stations in use at PMC. The new pump modules deliver fluids, medications, blood and blood products using continuous or intermittent delivery for patients.

    “All information is in the brain,” MacLachlan said, pointing at the computerized controls on one of the new pump stations. “All the calculations are already in there.”

    It has taken weeks of training and time to collect and transfer all the necessary data from PMC's pharmacy to the “brains” in the mobile stations.