New catheter procedure treats leaky heart valves

Banner University Medical Center Phoenix has been the center of a revolutionary procedure for people living with a leaky heart valve. A groundbreaking procedure has been completed utilizing Valcare’s AMEND ring to help treat a common heart disease.

Dr. Paul Sorajja, an Interventional Cardiologist at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the procedure.

Mitral regurgitation is a condition where the heart’s mitral valve doesn’t close properly, which causes blood to leak backward instead of flowing forward through the body. This disease affects millions of Americans and leaves many feeling unable to enjoy everyday activities because their heart has to work much harder to pump blood throughout the body, Dr. Sorajja explained.

In order to ensure no open-heart surgery is required, Dr. Sorajja said the ring is delivered through a small catheter inserted through a blood vessel. The repair happens on a beating heart, which allows patients to potentially go home days after the procedure instead of facing weeks of recovery.

“The mitral valve is a valve that sits on the left side of the heart, and what it’s designed to do is help carry blood from the lungs to the heart, where it can be pumped out to the body,” Dr. Sorajja said.

When a leak occurs in the Mitral valve, the pressure builds up in the left atrium, which is the receiving chamber for the blood from the lungs, and, as a result, patients feel short of breath.

“The body expects a certain amount of flow with each beat of the heart,” Dr. Sorajja explained, “and whenever there’s a leak, the heart has to compensate for that, by enlarging or pumping faster to help move blood to meet the body’s demands.”

According to Dr. Sorajja, patients can feel shortness of breath, tired and their heart rate may increase.

“Generally, there is a sense of unwellness,” Dr. Sorajja said.