Medtronic Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve - H080002

Medtronic has developed a replacement heart valve, the Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve - H080002 (Melody for short), that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this year for patients who suffer from congenital heart defects that result in a blockage or leakage in the pulmonary heart valve. The valve, which comes in three sizes (eighteen, twenty, and twenty two millimeters in diameter), is composed of a bovine’s jugular vein that has been modified with the addition of a stent that is sewn into the walls of the tissue. The modified valve is then placed into the patient by catheterization. Surgeons run a small tube with the stent on the end and inflate a balloon when the device is in the proper location. The device almost locks into place, the doctors remove the cathode, and the devices is the device starts working immediately. Because the device is implanted by catheter, the patient does not experience open heart surgery, meaning a significant increase in recovery time. Although there might not be an alternative to open heart surgery in some situations, the device can also increase the period of time between major surgeries significantly. Unfortunately, it cannot fix all problems and should not be used if the patient has or is prone to heart infections and should not be put in the place of any mitral or aortic valves positions.

Some people in my family suffer from unfortunate heart conditions, meaning I have a slightly higher probability of developing cardiac complications due to the curse/blessing of genetics. The possibility of decreasing recovery time means the decrease in cost of physical therapy as well as the mental and emotional drain that open heart surgery patients experience. Moreover, this alternative solution to heart valve problems would return a person like me that lives an active life style, to his or her niche at much quicker rate, which is a emotional plus.