New Option May Help Patients with Pulmonary Valve Disease

A recently approved pulmonary valve replacement can be delivered with a catheter, making it available to patients unable to have open surgery.

Published: August 20, 2013

A new heart valve approved by the Food and Drug Administration may be especially helpful for adults with a congenital heart condition that affects the health of the pulmonary valve.Its called the Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve, and its made from the jugular vein of a cow. The valve is sewn onto a stent, and the stent is then put onto a balloon catheter that is guided to the heart, usually through the femoral vein. …