A new type of heart valve replacement has been successfully used for the first time in Arizona to treat an adult. The procedure took place this month at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center.
Dr. Tabitha Moe, who leads the HonorHealth Adult Congenital Heart Disease program, explained that some babies are born with a condition called tetralogy of Fallot, where not enough blood flows from the right side of the heart to the lungs. These babies often need surgery to fix this issue.
As these children grow, the tube inserted during surgery may become too small for their larger size, leading to problems that may require a new pulmonary valve. Many of these patients have already had open-heart surgeries, but the new treatment offers a less invasive option using a catheter.
Catheter-based procedures are done by inserting a small tube through veins in the leg, groin, or neck, which is safer and allows patients to recover more quickly with shorter hospital stays. The new Medtronic Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve is designed for patients with large connections between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
Dr. Moe said the Harmony valve is customized for each patient using advanced 3D virtual modeling software. After a CT scan, engineers create a valve in the right size for the patient.
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