Heart Valve Surgery - New Techniques
My mother-in-law had this done at NY Langone in NYC which has built a special operating theatre just for this surgery. She was home the next day!
These are advanced, minimally invasive procedures for heart valve surgery that have revolutionized treatment, offering alternatives to traditional open-heart surgery for many patients. These procedures typically involve smaller incisions, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
The most well-known and widely used minimally invasive valve procedure is for the aortic valve.
What it Treats: Severe aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve).
The Procedure: Instead of opening the chest, the surgeon accesses the heart via a small incision, usually in the groin (through the femoral artery). A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is used to guide a new, collapsible valve up to the diseased valve site. The new valve is then expanded within the old valve.
Outcome: TAVR has become the preferred treatment for many elderly patients and those who are considered high-risk for traditional open-heart surgery.
Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair
For the mitral valve (the valve between the heart's upper and lower left chambers), there are both surgical and non-surgical catheter-based options:
Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery (MIMVS)
This is a surgical procedure that still involves a small incision, but not a full sternotomy (splitting the breastbone).
The Approach: Surgeons operate through a small incision on the right side of the chest, often between the ribs.
Benefit: This approach allows for the repair or replacement of the mitral valve with less trauma and a faster recovery than traditional open-heart surgery.
Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TMVR - MitraClip)
This is a catheter-based, non-surgical procedure used primarily to treat severe mitral regurgitation (a leaky valve).
The Procedure: The surgeon threads a catheter from the femoral vein in the groin to the heart. A small clip (MitraClip) is implanted to grasp the two leaflets of the mitral valve, helping them close more completely and reducing the backward flow of blood.
Benefit: This is often an option for patients who are too high-risk for any type of open-heart surgery.
Pulmonary and Tricuspid Valve Procedures
Minimally invasive techniques are also available for other valves:
Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Implantation (TPVI):
Used primarily to replace a faulty pulmonary valve in patients who had prior surgery for congenital heart defects (e.g., Tetralogy of Fallot).
Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair:
This is an emerging field, with devices being developed to address tricuspid regurgitation (leaky tricuspid valve) via a catheter approach.
These advancements mean that patients today have more options than ever before, with treatments tailored to their specific valve problem and overall health risk.
Tech Notes:
Disclaimer: This is not intended as medical advice. It's for informational purposes only.
Content written and posted by Ken Abbott abbottsystems@gmail.com
Like this post? Please share it by clicking one of the share buttons below!