As many of you know, I am a technology enthusiast. I love seeing the ways technology can improve our lives – especially when it comes to heart valve surgery. One of the newer technologies in this industry is the MitraClip which is used to treat mitral regurgitation (which results from leaky heart valves).

Over the past few months, I continue to receive more-and-more inquiries regarding this non-invasive form of mitral valve repair. In fact, I just opened an email from Anthony that says, “I’m a 45 year-old male just diagnosed with mitral regurgitation…. I’m basically in shock… Do you have any information on the MitraClip?”

While Evalve, Inc., the company which makes the MitraClip, has been around since 1999, recent studies about this percutaneous repair device have been encouraging. On May 14, 2009, it was announced that the first 100 patients have been treated with the MitraClip system in Europe. Of the procedures performed to date, 93% were considered successful. Then, a week later, additional results published from the EVEREST High Risk Registry showed the MitraClip as an effective surgical treatment for mitral regurgitation in high risk patients.

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In the past, we have discussed the genetics of heart valve disease. (So you know… I, like my Great Uncle Mooney, suffered from a congenital bicuspid aortic valve which needed to be replaced.)

On the topic of heredity and heart valve disease, a new study was just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology which suggests that nearly a third of first-degree relatives (siblings, children or parents) of patients with a bicuspid aortic valve are likely to have enlarged aortas. This was found even in the absence of any abnormalities of the heart valve itself.

According to the study:

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You might remember Shannon’s last email about diseased heart valves, pregnancy and child birth. Well…. Here is her post-operative update:

Hey Adam!

I wrote to you several months ago about heart valves and pregnancy. I just wanted to send you a quick update!

I had my surgery on May 14th at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Doctor Ed Chen was my surgeon. I cannot say enough about how wonderful he and the Emory staff were to work with.

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Everybody,

I just learned that we passed an incredible milestone for such a young website!!! Last week, the 10,000th comment was made at this heart valve blog!!!

I really, really, really, really want to thank all of you for contributing your thoughts, ideas, beliefs, advice and stories about heart valve surgery. Together, we are making a significant difference in the lives of current and future patients around the world!!!

Keep on tickin!

Thanks to a great support group and medical team, I made a full recovery after my double heart valve surgery. However, I did experience a series of physical and emotional challenges during my recovery. One of those challenges was specific to my voice. As Robyn (my wife) could tell you, my voice became incredibly hoarse following surgery.

So you know, I’m not the only patient that experienced a hoarse voice following cardiac surgery. Patricia, age 71, just sent me an interesting email which details her vocal problems following a difficult insertion of the ventilator tube. Here is what she writes:

Hi Adam – For two months after my aortic valve replacement I had great trouble talking. My surgeon told me that I  had a “difficult intubation” during the procedure.

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