Latest Heart valve Stories

Patients who had leaky mitral heart valves repaired along with bypass surgery had with healthier hearts than those who had bypass only, according to new research presented in the American Heart Association's Emerging Science Series webinar. The mitral valve separates the heart's left atrium (upper chamber) from the left ventricle (lower chamber). It has two flaps, or cusps, and if the flaps don't close properly, the valve will leak. "Many patients who need bypass surgery have mild to...

The biological scaffold that gives structure to a heart valve after its cellular material has been removed can be freeze-dried and stored for later use as a tissue-engineered replacement valve to treat a failing heart, as described in an article in Tissue Engineering, Part C: Methods, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com). The article is available free online at http://www.liebertpub.com/ten Shangping Wang and colleagues from Leibniz University,...

Leading medical groups collaborate to ensure consistent, responsible uptake of TAVR With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with aortic valvular stenosis, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF), along with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), today released an expert...

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 24, Heart Hospital of Austin opened a Heart Valve Clinic, the first of its kind in the region. The clinic gives new hope to patients with severe aortic stenosis who were previously considered "inoperable," delivering a multidisciplinary approach to evaluating such cases. Additionally, interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at the clinic will collaboratively identify patients who may be eligible for a new,...

An estimated 1.6 million Americans suffer moderate to severe leakage through their tricuspid valves, which are complex structures that allow blood to flow from the heart's upper right chamber to the ventricle. If left untreated, severe leakage can affect an individual's quality of life and can even lead to death. A new study finds that the anatomy of the heart's tricuspid valve can be used to predict the severity of leakage in the valve, which is a condition called tricuspid regurgitation....

CHICAGO, Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW), Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX), St Jude Medical (NYSE: STJ) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). (Logo:...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center is the first hospital in Arizona to perform a new nonsurgical heart valve replacement procedure, the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). TAVR valves are inserted via a catheter through the femoral artery, without requiring open heart surgery. "This procedure was like winning the lottery and I feel great," said 84-year-old William Ruser. The Scottsdale resident underwent the...

Patients with life-threatening heart valve disease could be helped with alternative scanning techniques that provide greater insight into the condition Patients with life-threatening heart valve disease could be helped with alternative scanning techniques that provide greater insight into the condition. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh used an imaging technique that could help predict which patients will need open heart surgery to replace their heart valves, and improve...

Only top 7% of U.S. hospitals OK'd for valve that doesn't require open heart surgery SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center announced today that it is among the first U.S. hospitals to receive approval to perform a new nonsurgical heart valve replacement procedure, the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). TAVR is significant because it does not require open chest surgery, giving hope for heart patients...

2-year study of transcatheter aortic valve replacement demonstrates continued superiority over standard therapy A two-year study of patients in the landmark PARTNER trial, which compared transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients who have severe aortic stenosis and are not candidates for open heart surgery, confirm the one-year findings and support the role of TAVR as the standard of care. Trial results were presented today at the 23rd annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular...