Phoenix hospital performs groundbreaking heart valve procedure

PHOENIX — Banner Health’s University Medical Center Phoenix became the first hospital in the United States to successfully perform a new procedure aimed at treating patients with leaky heart valves.

Using a Valcare’s AMEND Ring, Dr. Paul Sorajja completed the procedure, which is aimed to treat mitral regurgitation, according to a Monday news release.

Mitral regurgitation is a condition where the heart’s mitral valve doesn’t close properly and can cause blood to leak backward in the body. The condition could lead to several issues, including shortness of breath, swelling of the legs and feet, an irregular heartbreat and a greater risk of heart failure.

Traditional treatment for mitral regurgitation is open-heart surgery, in which a patient is prone to longer recovery times, higher risks and longer hospital visits.

The new procedure is done using a catheter that is inserted through a blood vessel using the AMEND ring. This allows for repair on a beating heart without having to stop it.

Patients may see new benefits from the surgery, including reduced pain, minimal scarring and potentially returning home the next day following surgery.

“For many patients living with a leaky heart valve, the thought of open-heart surgery can be overwhelming or simply not an option due to age or other health conditions,” Sorajja said in the release. “This new procedure offers a minimally invasive alternative that could help patients get back to living their lives with less pain, faster recovery and better outcomes.”

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