New, Less Invasive Procedure For Heart Valve Replacement
By Lynn Adkins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The FDA has approved a heart valve replacement procedure that will save many older patients from and suffering through a second, major surgical procedure.
Aortic valves made of animal tissue don't last forever and when they need to be replaced, open heart surgery has been required.
Now the FDA has approved a valve in valve reeplacement procedure according to Dr. Howard Cohen Director of Interventional Cardiology at Temple Univeristy Hospital:
"This can be done with a small puncture wound in the groin that doesn't require any major surgery and allows the valve to be replaced with a catheter tequnique."
And with the government approval, Medicare will pay for the procedure which is less risky and better tolerated for patients deemed high risk for the traditional open heart surgery.