Structural Heart Procedures Come to UH Lake West and UH Elyria Medical Centers

Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute Update | May 2025

Eddie Bostick had no idea that he was suffering mini strokes because he was born with a small hole between the upper chambers of his heart.

Dr. Justin Dunn (L) and Dr. Vinicius Esteves.

When he realized what was happening, the Geauga County man was pleasantly surprised that the minimally invasive but specialized procedure needed to fix it could be done at one of University Hospitals community medical centers.

University Hospitals (UH) Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute is building up structural heart programs in both the east and west regions. Interventional cardiologist Justin Dunn, MD, MPH, the new Regional Director of the Valve & Structural Heart Disease Center, performed the first transcatheter percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure at UH Lake West Medical Center.

UH Lake West was just 35 minutes from Eddie’s Thompson Township home, and it would have been twice as far and doubly stressful had he been forced to travel downtown to UH Cleveland Medical Center for the same procedure.

‌Dr. Dunn explained that every human being has a foramen ovale in utero, but it is supposed to close shortly after birth. In approximately 25-40% of the population, it fails to close and becomes a patent foramen ovale. The PFO can be a conduit for a small clot to travel from the venous system to the arterial system and cause a stroke, Dr. Dunn said. Closure of the PFO is recommended particularly in patients age 60 or younger who present with embolic stroke of unknown etiology, without other significant risk factors for stroke such as atrial fibrillation or carotid disease.

When an MRI confirmed Eddie’s small strokes, cardiologist Paul Zellers, DO, referred him to his colleague, Dr. Dunn. The closure procedure is done percutaneously, under conscious sedation, so the patient does not need full anesthesia. It only takes about 30 minutes, with a small opening through the groin and a small intracardiac echo camera and fluoroscopy to guide the procedure. 

Two discs are implanted in the heart to seal the PFO.

“They went in through the groin, it was quick and there was hardly any pain,” Eddie said. “Everybody was really professional and courteous about my needs.”

Follow-up echocardiograms over the ensuing months confirm that the device remains in place.

“It gives me relief that I don’t have to worry about the mini strokes anymore,” said Eddie, who is 50.

A Structural Heart Program also has been established on the Westside. Based at UH Elyria Medical Center, the program is led by interventional cardiologist Vinicius Esteves, MD, PhD, FESC. Prior to his arrival, interventional cardiologist Steven Filby, MD, performed the first left atrial appendage occlusion (Watchman) procedure, signaling the start of UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute's structural heart program at this Lorain County hospital.  

Dr. Esteves and Dr. Dunn are looking forward to performing additional procedures new to the market, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), left atrial appendage occlusion (e.g. Watchman) and percutaneous mitral valve repairs.

Eddie appreciated having the opportunity to receive care from an experienced professional closer to home.

“I highly recommend Dr. Dunn,” he said. “His bedside manner is very professional, he answers all your questions, and he isn’t in a hurry to get out of the room. I’m very well taken care of at UH.”