Experts are constantly trying to perfect open-heart surgery in the United States, because of the massive amount of heart disease cases in the country. A new device is now generating a buzz due to its high success rate.
Reuters reports on the new device.
Medtronic may have revolutionized the way open-heart surgery is performed in the United States.
CoreValve, a minimally invasive device created by Medtronic, has proven to be quite successful in replacing diseased aortic heart valves. Studies show that surgeries that use this device have a much higher survival rate than traditional open-heart surgeries.
Reuters offers the statistics from the study, “One year after receiving the CoreValve in the 795-patient Phase III trial, the rate of death was 14.2 percent compared with a 19.1 percent death rate in the surgery group, researchers said. The result, presented at the American College of Cardiology scientific meeting in Washington, was deemed to be statistically significant. There was also no increased risk of stroke seen with CoreValve compared with surgery, which had been one of the main concerns of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) early on in clinical testing.”
Reuters explains why CoreValve surgeries are different and better, “TAVR systems use a catheter threaded through an artery to the heart to put the new valve in place, sparing patients chest-cracking open-heart surgery and typically longer hospital stays associated with the invasive surgical procedure. In addition to the survival result, the rate of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events was significantly lower with CoreValve - 20.4 percent versus 27.3 percent for surgery. That was a combination of death from any cause, heart attack, stroke or need for another procedure.”
Dr. Adams, from the CoreValve trial told Reuters, “I think the results were outstanding. Now, it might be better [than traditional surgery], We're making continual progress. It's not only an alternative but may be a preferable alternative.” The Food and Drug Administration first approved of the device in January of this year.
