A Breakthrough in Heart Valve Replacement Unveiled in Arizona
The medical community in Arizona is celebrating a groundbreaking achievement as HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center successfully implements a novel heart valve replacement procedure for adults. This marks the first time such a procedure has been conducted in the state.
Dr. Tabitha Moe, who leads the HonorHealth Adult Congenital Heart Disease program, elaborates on the congenital condition known as tetralogy of Fallot, where infants are born with a defect that hampers blood flow from the right side of the heart to the lungs. Surgical intervention is required early in life to widen this pathway.
“As these children age, they often require additional procedures because the size of the tube that’s put in place as a 1-month-old, may be too small when that child grows up,” explained Moe.
This situation often necessitates a pulmonary valve replacement as the patients mature. Notably, many of these individuals have already undergone open-heart surgeries. The innovative treatment offers a less invasive alternative, utilizing a catheter-based technique.
“Catheter-based procedures can be done through the leg or through the vein in the groin or through the vein in the neck maybe, depending on where we’re trying to go,” said Moe, highlighting the flexibility and reduced risk of this approach.
Patients benefit from shorter hospital stays and the procedure’s minimally invasive nature. The Medtronic Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve, a pivotal element of this procedure, is self-expanding and tailored for individuals with significantly large connections between their right ventricle and pulmonary artery.
“The Harmony valve is actually individualized and designed for each patient with a really high-tech 3D virtual modeling software,” Moe stated. “So the patients go through a CT scan, that CT scan goes to the engineers at the manufacturing company and they tell us which size valve they need to have.”
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