Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

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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Blog Topics: Heart Valve Surgery Videos; MitraClip; Catheter-Based Valve Repair; Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Video; Evalve

I’m not sure if you heard of the MitraClip Device by Evalve yet… But, I was just scolling through YouTube.com when I saw a new video which demonstrates how this catheter-based, minimally invasive approach works to repair mitral valves.

I was really impressed by the technology. Considering its non-invasive, the healing time is faster and the recovery is usually only a few weeks versus a few months. (Ahhh. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?)

Unfortunately, as you can see in my heart valve surgery pictures, I had a full median sternotomy from the Ross Procedure which replaced two valves in my heart - the aortic and pulmonary.

Anyways, I have positioned MitraClip Mitral Valve Repair Video as my “Heart Valve Surgery Video Of The Week” but if I take it down in the future, you can view it by clicking here:

MitraClip Video - Mitral Valve Repair Video, Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Surgery

Here is more information about the MitraClip Device

The Evalve Percutaneous Mitral Repair (PMR) system is used by interventional cardiologists and is intended to reduce mitral regurgitation (MR), adapting the open surgical edge-to-edge technique in a less invasive catheter-based procedure.

Since the early 1990’s, edge-to-edge has been increasingly used in the treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). Pioneered in Italy by Dr. Ottavio Alfieri, the technique involves suturing together the two leaflets of the mitral valve. The valve continues to open on both sides of the suture, allowing blood flow through the valve from the left atrium to left ventricle, while assuring proper valve closure when blood is pumped from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.

Well over 1,500 procedures have been reported in peer-reviewed clinical literature with up to 15 years of follow-up. The collective experience has demonstrated that the surgical technique appears to be safe, effective and durable.

The Evalve Percutaneous Mitral Repair System with the MitraClip® Device
The system consists of three major subsystems:

• A Guide Catheter
• A Clip Delivery System, and
• The MitraClip Device(implant).

The Guide Catheter is inserted into the femoral vein at the groin and provides access to the mitral valve. The Clip is used to grasp and fasten together the valve leaflets. The Clip Delivery System is used to deliver and deploy the MitraClip device.

Patients recovering from mitral valve surgery may take up to several months to regain normal physical function and activity. Because PMR does not require a chest incision or the use of a heart lung machine, patients may avoid the complications and long recovery time associated with surgery.

I hope this helps explains and shows you about the MitraClip Device by Evalve.

Keep on tickin,

Adam

Hey everybody,When I learned that I needed a heart valve replacement, I was presented with a number of choices. One of those surgical options revolved around my valve replacement type.

There are pig valves (porcine), cow valves (bovine) and mechanical valves (prosthetic). There are several advantages and disadvantages for each of the valves referenced above.

Eventually, through a special aortic valve replacement procedure, known as the Ross Procedure, I was able to use my own valve. The only problem was that I had to use my pulmonary valve which was ultimately replaced by a homograft (a human donor valve).

However, according to recent reports about stem cells and heart valves, patients may be able to grow their own heart valve replacements in just six weeks!

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Leading up to my heart valve surgery, I had always been active and athletic. From soccer to surfing, I really enjoy sports. Mostly, I think I like being outside.

But, I also like the endorphin rush after a good run, swim or hike.

Adam Pick At Cardiac Rehab Class
(Torrance Memorial Hospital, California)

Interestingly enough, I was never really interested in monitoring my heart rate during the first 35 years of my life.

Then… I had my open heart surgery.

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