Percutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement

[Karlynn]

I also found this article, just posted 2/7/07 and I thought some would find it interesting.

The mortality rates seems high at first glance, however, I believe that their study group of 50 were elderly who were not considered candidates for standard aortic valve replacement due to health concerns.

http://www.cardiosource.com/expertopinions/Programhlts/interviewDetail.asp?progID=&interviewID=313

Reading the transcript is also interesting.

 

[tobagotwo]

Here's the key to that:

In this very high-risk group of patients who were not candidates for surgery, 30-day mortality was less than half the expected rate and, with experience, the mortality rate is now two-thirds less than expected (Slide 5). Overall, initial results and short-term outcomes are excellent in this high-risk group of patients (Slide 6).

These were people who didn't have much going for them at all . They weren't candidates for surgery because they were already very seriously ill. The part we should be looking at is the lowered, short-term mortality rates.

This, by the way, doesn't appear to be one of the top contender percutaneous valves, either. Valves created by more experienced valve people might be more advantageous.

Best wishes,