Prosthetic valve mismatches common in transcatheter valve replacement, ups risk of death

In the largest multi-institutional study to date, led by researchers from Penn Medicine, the team found that among patients who underwent a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a high number experienced severe and moderate cases of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM)—meaning the implanted heart valve is too small for the patient which can lead to inadequate blood flow. The team also found […]

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Keyhole may trump robotic surgery for mitral valve repair

Keyhole surgery for heart valve repair may trump robotic surgery, because it is associated with lower rates of subsequent heart flutter and blood transfusions, and a shorter hospital stay, reveals research looking at the pros and cons of different surgical approaches, published online in the journal Heart. But as keyhole, robotic, and conventional surgery are all very safe and effective, […]

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Previous stroke tied to higher risks in aortic valve replacement

(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), previous stroke is a risk factor for recurrent ischemic stroke and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), according to a study published online April 25 in JAMA Cardiology. Charlotte Andreasen, M.D., from the Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev and Gentofte in Denmark, and colleagues conducted a cohort study involving 14,030 patients with aortic valve […]

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New technique makes heart valve replacement safer for some high-risk patients

Scientists have developed a novel technique that prevents coronary artery obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a rare but often fatal complication. The method, called Bioprosthetic Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery obstruction (BASILICA), will increase treatment options for high-risk patients who need heart valve procedures. The findings by researchers at the National Institutes of Health […]

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