A Montreal First! MUHC Cardiologists Perform Four Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implants

Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 10:34
Patients Avoid Open-Heart Surgery - Return Home within 48 hours
 
MUHC interventional cardiologists are the first in Montreal to perform a new procedure called a percutaneous pulmonary valve implant. Doctors Joe Martucci and Adrian Dancea successfully performed this non-surgical procedure on four patients, two teenagers ages 13 and 14, and two adults ages 22 and 60, in the cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centre at The Montreal Children’s Hospital of the MUHC during February 8 and 9 who were discharged from hospital shortly after their procedure. The MUHC is one of the five centers in the world that is currently certified in performing this procedure.
 
“This just another example of how the McGill Centre of Excellence in Congenital Heart Disease of the MUHC has made a safe and innovative procedure accessible to our patients,” says Dr. Martucci. “This is truly a minimally invasive procedure that avoids long-term hospital stays and post-operative complications that may result from traditional open-heart surgery. In effect, patients can have this procedure done in about two hours and return to their normal routines within 24 to 48 hours,” he adds.
 
Percutaneous valve therapy is used to treat a narrowing and/or leaking pulmonary valve. The procedure involves replacing the valve that sits between the heart and lungs with an artificial one. The replacement valve, created from a bovine jugular vein, is mounted on a catheter and inserted through a five-millimeter incision in the groin area. The catheter is advanced from the groin to the heart to its final resting spot where it is implanted using a small balloon.
 
“The procedure can significantly delay the need for open-heart surgery and greatly reduce the life-long morbidity associated with some heart malformations,” explains Dr. Dancea.
 
MEET THE PATIENTS
MUHC cardiologists invite you to meet two of the patients who underwent this new procedure and to view some footage of this medical intervention. Doctors Martucci and Dancea will be present.
 
WHEN:           Thursday February 22 at 2 p.m.
WHERE:         The Montreal Children’s Hospital
                        2300 Tupper (corner Atwater)
                        Cardiac Catherization Lab
                        Third floor C wing

For more info please contact:
Lisa Dutton, Manager
Public Relations and Communications
(514) 412-4307
 
Seeta Ramdass
MUHC Public Relations
Communications coordinator
514-843-1560