New invention 'may avoid open-heart surgery'

A new invention may offer hope to people with cardiovascular disease by avoiding the need for them to undergo open-heart surgery for the condition, it has been claimed.

According to its creators, the MitraClip system may be a valuable treatment option for patients with mitral regurgitation, the most common heart valve condition
The catheter-based device for mitral valve repair meets both primary safety and effectiveness endpoints compared to surgery and the inventors said the "superior safety profile" and improvements in heart function and quality of life are significant positives.

Experts have welcomed the creation of the device, which may lead to a much safer way for people with cardiovascular disease to be treated, compared with alternatives such as open-heart surgery.

The British Cardiovascular Society vice-president of education and research, Dr Iain Simpson, said that the results of the study are "very encouraging" and could potentially lead to many more patients being treated.

He explained: "Surgical repair of a leaking mitral valve is very successful and a relatively low risk operation in expert hands but not all patients are suitable for surgery especially elderly patients with heart failure where the risks of surgery are too high and the MitraClip repair offers an effective alternative."

The specialist added that the MitraClip will not completely replace traditional means of treating patients, however, as some will be more suited to surgery.

Abbott, which created the MitraClip, said the catheter-based device is delivered to the heart through a blood vessel in the leg and is designed to reduce significant mitral regurgitation by clipping together the leaflets of the mitral valve, which is one of the four valves of the heart.

Mr Simpson concluded: "There is no doubt that this could provide effective treatment for many more patients and is one of a series of developing techniques to repair and replace heart valves using catheter based technology."

Posted by Louise Jones

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