Expert Consensus Panel at ISMICS 2008 Reports Both Stentless, Stented Valves Excellent Substitutes for Aortic Valve Disease

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - June 13, 2008) - The International Society For Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (http://www.ismics.org) released the results of a special Expert Consensus Panel today recommending that both stentless and stented valves provide excellent valve substitutes for aortic valve disease.

Speaking for the Panel, Chairman John Pepper, MA, CHIR, FRCS, said, "In certain situations, the early superior hemodynamic performance of stentless bioprosthesis offers advantages over stented valves. In the absence of aortic root disease and with an annulus greater than or equal to 21 mm, either stented or stentless valves are acceptable alternatives for the majority of patients when a current (second or third) generation bioprosthesis is indicated."

An updated set of guidelines jointly released on June 19, 2008 by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) draws together the latest information on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with valvular heart disease.

Quoting directly from the document, "Valve disease most often strikes the mitral valve, which controls blood flow between the left atrium and the left ventricle, or the aortic valve (most prevalent type), which controls blood flow between the left ventricle and the aorta, the large artery that supplies blood to the rest of the body. Valvular heart disease caused about 20,000 deaths in 2003. The total mentioned mortality (i.e., underlying or contributing number of deaths) is about 42,500. There were 95,000 first-listed hospital discharges in 2003 for valvular heart disease. An estimated 95,000 inpatient valve procedures were performed in the United States in 2003."

According to Rex De Lisle Stanbridge, MB, FRCS FRCP, President of ISMICS, "The Expert Consensus Panel is an annual feature of the ISMICS conference. Minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery is becoming a worldwide, multi-billion dollar endeavor, supported by corporations around the globe. ISMICS is proud to be a good leader in bringing minimally invasive surgical techniques and technologies to patient care."

The ISMICS Annual Scientific Meeting includes a diverse exhibit floor. Major companies exhibiting at the conference include: Atricure, Atrium Medical, ATS Medical, Axcan, Broncus Technologies, Cardica, Inc., CSL Behring, Edwards Lifesciences, ESTECH, Ethicon, I-Flow, Intuitive Surgical, Karl-Storz Endoscopy, MAQUET, MedicalCV, Medtronic, nContact (ACATI), Scanlan, St. Jude Medical, Terumo Corp, and Thoramet Surgical.

About ISMICS

The International Society For Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery was formed to organize and centralize the various surgical centers concerned with patient outcomes, techniques, and progressive development of less invasive forms of heart surgery. Formed on May 31, 1997 by the participants of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at the Palais Des Congres, Paris France, the new ISMICS is taking the leadership role in shaping the direction of less invasive cardiac surgery on a global basis. The founding membership includes representatives from all continents.

Contact Information: For further information Contact: Elizabeth Chouinard ISMICS 978-927-8330 or Steven Swartz SIZZLE PR 978-524-9595