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Monday, August 17, 2009

New safety, durability data for percutaneous mitral-valve repair system

AUGUST 14, 2009 | Shelley Wood

Washington, DC - New safety and durability data for the percutaneous MitraClip system (Evalve), an experimental device being tested for the treatment of mitral regurgitation, suggest that the device yields lasting improvements in mitral regurgitation, with at least two-thirds of patients treated surviving out beyond one year, without needing mitral-valve surgery or developing worsening mitral regurgitation [1]. Of the patients who ended up needing valve repair, there appeared to be no downsides to first having been treated with the device, investigators said.

The MitraClip [Source: Evalve]
"Surgical options were preserved," the authors, led by Dr Ted Feldman (Evanston Hospital, IL), write in the August 18, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The new data come from 107 patients treated as part of the nonrandomized EVEREST 1 and 2 studies. Results for both studies have previously been reported by heartwire, but the current paper includes larger numbers and additional details and follow-up. The device itself emulates the edge-to-edge repair technique pioneered surgically by Dr Ottavio Alfieri, in which the free edge of the anterior mitral-valve leaflet is joined to the posterior leaflet, creating a point of permanent coaptation and a double orifice./.../

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