The Department of Surgery implants a new biological aortic prosthesis

June 8, 2021
─

Canadian first at the Montreal Heart Institute

The Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) announces that the surgery department has implanted a new biological aortic prosthesis in a patient, a Canadian first. This cutting-edge medical device reduces the time required for surgery and the risk of complications; thus, patients enjoy a better quality of life.

“Patients requiring such surgery are usually under 65 years of age,” says Dr. Philippe Demers, a cardiac surgeon at the MHI. “This new biological prosthesis allows these younger and active patients to maintain their lifestyle, as it does not require them to take anticoagulant medication.”

Aortic Valve Diseases

There are four chambers in the heart, each with a valve to control blood flow. Of these, the aortic valve controls the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the main artery of the body, the aorta. This valve opens to carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body and closes to prevent it from flowing backwards and mixing with oxygen-poor blood.

Aortic valve diseases occur when the valve in the aorta can no longer open or close properly. Usually caused by a birth defect, infective endocarditis (the inner layers of the heart), aging, or rheumatic fever in childhood, they can lead to heart failure or hypertrophy of the heart, which is an increase in the size of the heart.