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"What About Mitral Valve Replacements Using A Catheter?" Asks Denny

By Adam Pick on March 23, 2012

I just received an interesting question from Denny about catheter heart valve replacement devices. Denny writes, "Hi Adam - I'm reading a lot about catheters being used for aortic valve replacement procedures. But, I never hear anything about using a catheter to replace the mitral valve. Why is that? Thanks, Denny"

Transcatheter Heart Valve Replacement Device

To answer Denny's question, I contacted Dr. Craig Smith, the Chairman of Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center and principal investigator of the PARTNER trial for the SAPIEN transcather aortic valve replacement technology.

Dr. Craig Smith's Former Patients Include President Bill Clinton & Barbara Walters

In response to Denny's question, Dr. Smith noted:

The technology enabling catheter replacements of the mitral valve is at least 5 years behind replacement of the aortic valve, maybe longer. There are several anatomic differences that account for this. Catheter replacement of mitral valves that have been replaced surgically in the past are being done in small numbers now, using the prostheses designed for catheter aortic replacement.

Specific to the anatomical differences referenced above, Dr. Smith commented on the delivery system for the transcather mitral valve and the actual valve requirements:

The anatomy of the valve requires a very different approach to design. Delivery is also more complex, but less an issue than the anatomy of the valve.

Finally, I asked Dr. Smith a follow-up question, "Are the medical device manufacturers working on the catheter-based mitral valve replacement technology in parallel with the aortic valve replacement devices? Or, are the research and development costs so significant that it requires a more linear approach?"

In his response, Dr. Smith noted:

They are, but much more slowly. It will be closer to linear.

Thanks to Denny for her question and a special thanks to Dr. Craig Smith for sharing his clinical expertise with our patient and caregiver community. To learn more about Dr. Smith, click here to see his surgeon profile.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

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Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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