Heart valves regulate blood flow, and major calcium buildup there can be life threatening. So is open-heart surgery for patients with the condition.
The FDA has approved the Tendyne device to replace the mitral heart valve through a small incision between the ribs.
Dr. Paul Sorajja with Banner-University Medical Center in Phoenix helped develop the device. In a clinical trial of just over 100 patients, nearly 90% saw significant improvement in heart failure symptoms.
"It does replace high risk surgery, which is very important. It’s a very safe procedure. We found it to be safer than conventional surgery. So it’s a great option for patients who often go untreated," Sorajja said.
Sorajja said patients often spent less than a week in the hospital after their operation.
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The Verde River watershed in northern Arizona scored high for recreation and low for water quality. -
It’s part of an effort to use advances in DNA technology to attach names to those the military was unable to identify after the aerial assault 85 years ago. -
As temperatures continue to rise, the risk of rattlesnake encounters does as well. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is warning people to stay aware of these animals when going out. -
The study found that permafrost can thaw during intense wildfires in Alaska and Canada, which contributes to a warming climate feedback loop. -
Arizona’s measles outbreak is showing signs of slowing down. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported just one new measles case this week.
