Revolutionary heart valve treatment: Hope for those affected in Germany!

Revolutionary heart valve treatment: Hope for those affected in Germany!

In recent years, the treatment of innate heart defects has made enormous progress. According to Westfalen-leaf , statistics show that in every fifth patient the connection between heart and lungs has changed. These anomalies often require early interventions that are already carried out in the first months of life. Operations on the open heart and catheter -guided extensions are necessary. Despite these interventions, pulmonary valve insufficiency can occur, in which a significant part of the blood flows back into the right heart chamber, which can lead to an enlargement of the heart and functional restrictions.

The treatment options for pulmonary valve insufficiency were traditionally limited to catheter treatments or again necessary operations on the open heart. However, with the introduction of a new minimally invasive transcatheter flap replacement system, the treatment spectrum has expanded. This procedure has now also been applied to the cardiac and diabetes center NRW (HDZ NRW), where Professor Schubert and Dr. Grohmann have successfully implanted the new pulmonary flap (Hamonytm, Medtronic) in four patients.

new therapy method

The new process was carried out without general anesthesia by implanting the flap over the groin vessels. This innovative method could revolutionize treatment for many of those affected. The decision to use this procedure is made individually using a computer tomography. This shows how important tailor -made treatment is for patients with congenital heart defects. According to Deutsches Health portal this pulmonary valve was provided with a CE approval in January 2025 and provides significant progress for adults congenital heart defects.

worldwide have already been successfully carried out over 2,500 of these procedures, which indicates the high potential of this form of therapy. The use of the specially developed flap could help patients with severe insufficiency, who have often been faced with a significant restriction of their quality of life and increased mortality in the past.

a look into the past

The development of surgical interventions in innate heart defects has an impressive story. In Germany, the number of annual births with heart defects is estimated at more than 8,500, with around 300,000 adults living with innate heart defects. 80 years ago, the survival rate for children with heart defects was dramatically low; Only half of the children survived the first year of life. Today, however, 97 % of children who are born with heart defects, the 18th year of life.

Thanks to numerous progress in pediatric cardiology, which set up a chair for this area over 60 years ago in Germany, the quality of life and expectation of those affected has improved significantly. The first important achievements date from the 1930s and 1940s when, among other things, the first cardiac operation in hypothermia and various correction procedures were developed. These successes represent the foundation for today's minimally invasive techniques that help patients lead a fulfilling life.