Sameer Gafoor

About Sameer Gafoor

Structural heart disease is the next frontier for cardiology. Previously, many issues…

Experience

1. Medical Director, Structural Heart Disease

   Swedish

   Aug 2015 — Present

   Structural heart disease is a complex entity covering various parts of the cardiovascular system. This ranges from techniques to treat the following: Valvular Heart Disease: aortic valves (transcatheter aortic valve replacement or TAVR), mitral valves (mitral valvuloplasty, mitraclip, mitral annuloplasty techniques, as well as mitral valve replacement), tricuspid and pulmonic valves. In addition, this covers leaks around valves (paravalvular leaks). We perform these often in patients who are high-risk or are not candidates for traditional surgery. These interventions often increase both the length and quality of life, as well as make patients feel better. Swedish Medical Center is the only center in the state of Washington that is licensed to take care of both degenerative and functional mitral regurgitation with the Mitraclip device. Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion/Closure/Exclusion: In patients with atrial fibrillation, blood thinners are often necessary or recommended to help prevent clot formation and stroke. Excluding the appendage can decrease the risk of stroke and increase life expectancy and quality of life, as well as make patients feel better. Atrial Septal Defect / Ventricular Septal Defect/Patent Ductus Arteriosus: Normally, patients have walls between the four chambers of the heart. Sometimes these walls have holes that need closure. In the case of patent ductus arteriosus, this is a connection that helps blood flow before birth and usually closes on its own but sometimes does not. These can be done in a minimally invasive, or percutaneous fashion. Heart Failure: There is often an outpouching or aneurysm in the heart. This leads to worsening heart failure. We are part of the Parachute study, which uses the Parachute left ventricular occluder to exclude the nonfunctioning parts of the heart from affecting the healthy parts. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: For some patients with HCM, septal ablation can lead to feeling better without surgery.

Education

• Northwestern University - The Feinberg School of Medicine

  Doctor of Medicine (MD), Medicine

  2001 — 2005

• Northwestern University

  Bachelor's degree, Psychology

  1998 — 2001

Skills

• Ultrasound
• Epidemiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare
• Healthcare Management
• Medicine
• Clinical Trials
• Surgery
• Icu
• Internal Medicine
• Physicians
• Medical Imaging
• Public Health
• Board Certified
• Peripheral Vascular
• Healthcare Information Technology
• Medical Research
• Clinical Research
• Critical Care
• Medical Education
• Hospitals
• Vascular
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cardiology