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Expert Consensus Panel at ISMICS 2008 Reports Both Stentless, Stented Valves Excellent Substitutes for Aortic Valve Disease
| Source: International Society For Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery
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.