Stentless -how new?

[Marty]

I havn't kept up on valve types since I got my mechanical St.Jude in Septembe 1998. It has served me well. I've had no problem self testing and self dosing warfarin. ( I am a doctor but only a radiologist). Well, today I received a newsletter from my hospital, Inova Fairfax, with an enthusiastic blurb about stentless heart valves. - " one of the most innovative cardiac procedures available today!" "Inova was the first to offer this innovative technology and considered to be a national leader in performing the technique." Hello ? I thought stentless was old hat. First, aortic 15 -20 years ago and mitral maybe 10 years ago. Dr. R..... states "stentless valves have revolutionized valve replacement" and Dr. R instructs physicians across the country and around the world! All this in my own back yard and I was completely unaware. I'd like some comment about this from our VR.com folks. Any of you gone stentless? How long ago? Aortic or mitral?

 

[tobagotwo]

Stentless has been around for quite a while. Hospitals frequently overuse the words "new" and "innovation" in their writings. If you look through their other outputs, such as what to do when you get home, you will likely find other notions that are absolutely antiquated. Most of the medical world doesn't rocket forward with new technologies or understandings.

Stentless is great, but it isn't new. Perhaps this is from a surgeon who has taken to using a custom-tailored Medtronic Freestyle in place of stented tissue valves. That particular practice has been around for only four or five years, as I recall it.

Best wishes,

 

[Marty]

Thanks, Bob. I thought so. Actually, I think the editor of the newsletter should be spanked.