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.
-
Lithium is a key metal for electric vehicle batteries and there is a global push to find new sources of it. There is currently only one lithium mine in operation in the United States, but that is about to change — and drastically. -
A federal hydrologist appeared to be momentarily at a loss for words Thursday as he described how dire the latest forecast has gotten for how much water will flow through the Colorado River Basin this summer. -
Temperatures in Phoenix will be about 14 degrees hotter than normal Monday and Tuesday. Climate Central ranks the weather event at the highest end of its Climate Shift Index scale. -
The Arizona Science Center has a new leader, but she’s not new to the organization. Tammy Stewart has served as the interim CEO since last fall, but was recently named the Hazel A. Hare president and CEO. -
University of Arizona researchers have developed equipment to measure seismic activity on the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis campaign.
