Phoenix-based Banner Health became the first health system in the U.S. to implant Valcare’s Amend ring for mitral valve repair.
The procedure was performed at Banner–University Medical Center Phoenix by interventional cardiologist Paul Sorajja, MD. The transcatheter approach is designed to treat mitral regurgitation, a condition in which the heart’s mitral valve does not close properly and allows blood to leak backward, according to a Feb. 2 system news release.
The Amend system is delivered through a catheter and enables repair on a beating heart, eliminating the need for open-heart surgery. The approach is intended for patients who have moderately severe or severe mitral regurgitation who may not be good candidates for traditional surgery.
Unlike other transcatheter mitral valve repair options, the system is designed to preserve future treatment flexibility, allowing for additional interventions if needed.
Banner Health is participating in a clinical study tied to the procedure that will follow patients for five years to assess durability and quality-of-life outcomes, according to the release.
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