During the past week, I have received two emails from Ellen (in New York) and Paul (in California) about the new Trifecta heart valve replacement manufactured by St. Jude Medical.

So you know, I was not aware of the Trifecta heart valve. Nor did I know that a clinical trial was already underway with actual patients. That said, I was interested to learn more about the Trifecta valve replacement made by Minnesota-based, St. Jude Medical.

Here are some quick facts about the Trifecta heart valve and the clinical trial:

• The Trifecta valve replacement is a relatively new investigational stented, pericardial (cow) tissue heart valve ^[1].
• The first implant of the Trifecta valve was completed in July, 2007. The first implant was performed by Hartzell V. Schaff, M.D., Cardiovascular Surgery Division, Mayo Clinic. Doctor Schaff is the trial’s principal investigator.
• Approximately 500 adult patients will participate in the study across 22 medical centers in the United Stated and Canada.
• The trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Trifecta as a replacement for the aortic valve ^[2]. Efficacy will be determined by the valve’s hemodynamic performance (its ability to deliver blood flow to accommodate the body’s needs).

After doing her own primary research, Ellen wrote to me, “This valve sounds almost too good to be true. The Trifecta valve is stented ^[3], with Links technology and supposedly easier to implant. Plus, it was suggested the valve has decreased calcification risk ^[4] and better blood flow.”

Let’s keep tabs on the Trifecta heart valve by St. Jude. If by chance, you are part of the trial, please Leave A Reply ^[5] below! FYI, we also started hearing from patients in the On-X mitral valve replacement trial ^[6].

Keep on tickin!