Device Avoids Open-Heart Surgery When Artificial Valve Fails

Doctors and researchers are working together to start putting to use a new novelty in heart valve surgery. Implanting a mechanical valve inside an artificial valve derived from a cow or pig could be the answer to all questions. Researchers say that "once expanded and opened, the new valve opens and functions similarly to the patient's own valve." The advantage is that failing valves can be replaced without the need for open-heart surgery, specially for high-risk patients.

The article reported on 24 high-risk patients who underwent surgery that transplanted a new artificial valve into the existing artificial one. The valves were inserted through a catheter and expanded with the help of balloons that pushed the old valves away. These patients proved to recover rapidly, but this strategy isn't appropriate in all cases, even though it's a lesser risk.

I was particularly interested in this article because of the device design project. When I found out about the device design for this semester, I was very excited to be focusing on such a neglected population when it comes to heart diseases. Artificial hearts are themselves incredibly interesting but a pediatric artificial heart is even more so. Of course, to design one, we first must learn about valves and all.

This article was revolutionary for me. Putting a mechanical valve inside an already artificial valve, is truly thinking out of the box. I believe this finding will benefit many people that could possibly die in surgery otherwise.

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=115477