University Times

UPMC is the first hospital system in the region to implant successfully a newly FDA-approved valve in patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis, a debilitating narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve that often causes shortness of breath, lightheadedness and fatigue.

Called the Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve, this new treatment option has been shown to improve the quality of life for those who suffer from aortic stenosis, which affects as many as 500,000 people in the United States. This condition can interfere with day-to-day activities such as walking or climbing stairs. Traditionally, a patient’s only option was to have open-heart surgery to replace the aortic valve, but that procedure often was deemed too risky for elderly patients, who are most prone to the condition.

The Sapien valve is implanted via catheter, making the procedure less invasive and more appropriate for patients deemed unsuitable for open-heart surgery.

UPMC cardiologists implanted the valves in two patients last month, including a 91-year-old man with a history of open-heart surgery who was considered too high risk for open heart aortic replacement surgery.

The FDA approved the use of the Sapien valve, made by Edwards Lifesciences, in November.