Tony
March 19th, 2005, 03:12 PM
Cardiologists at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich., today announced they have treated the first U.S. patient in a new clinical trial of a heart valve implanted without open-heart surgery.
During the procedure, the replacement tissue valve is compressed to about the diameter of a pencil in size, then is threaded through a patient's circulatory system into the heart via a catheter (a thin tube) that has been inserted into the patient's leg. The valve is positioned within the patient's existing aortic valve and expanded by a balloon to about the diameter of a quarter. This secures the replacement valve into place and pushes the diseased valve's leaflets against the aortic wall.
The procedure is discussed in detail at:
www.beaumonthospital.com
During the procedure, the replacement tissue valve is compressed to about the diameter of a pencil in size, then is threaded through a patient's circulatory system into the heart via a catheter (a thin tube) that has been inserted into the patient's leg. The valve is positioned within the patient's existing aortic valve and expanded by a balloon to about the diameter of a quarter. This secures the replacement valve into place and pushes the diseased valve's leaflets against the aortic wall.
The procedure is discussed in detail at:
www.beaumonthospital.com