Heart Hospital of Austin performs milestone mitral valve procedure

Austin, Texas — Physicians at Heart Hospital of Austin recently became the first in the nation to use an FDA-approved novel transcatheter mitral valve replacement system for patients with severe mitral annular calcification — a buildup of calcium that stiffens the structure of the mitral valve. The mitral valve, one of four valves in the heart, sits between the upper and lower heart chambers. When the mitral valve does not work correctly, it makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the body, causing a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life.

The first procedure was performed by Faraz Kerendi, MD, surgical director of the Heart Valve Clinic at Heart Hospital of Austin, cardiac surgeon Brendan Dewan, MD, interventional cardiologists John Moscona, MD, and Frank Zidar, MD, and imaging cardiologist Paul Pagley, MD.

Heart Hospital of Austin also participated in the trial that led to FDA approval.    

“This first-of-its-kind technology revolutionizes care for patients needing mitral valve replacement, offering a life-saving solution where few options existed before,” Dr. Kerendi said. “At Heart Hospital of Austin, we provide world-class, compassionate care in Central Texas to patients who are facing the most complex heart conditions.”

Patients previously needing mitral valve replacement procedures required open-heart surgery. The new novel system is a minimally invasive treatment option, featuring a unique design that includes a self-expanding tri-leaflet valve, which is delivered through a small needle puncture at the apex of the heart. The valve is fully repositionable and retrievable during implantation, allowing for the best possible outcome. The flexibility of the design also enables physicians to adapt to a range of anatomies for patients with mitral annular calcification.