Cardiologists at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, became the first in the state to successfully implant the Edwards Sapien 3 Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve System with Alterra Adaptive Prestent on a congenital heart disease patient, according to a recent announcement from the children’s hospital.
On July 7, the team performed the minimally invasive procedure, marking a significant advancement in treatment options for congenital heart disease patients in the state of New Jersey.
The Edwards Sapien 3 Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve System with Alterra Adaptive Prestent is used to treat congenital heart disease patients with leaky or narrowed pulmonary valves, a condition commonly found in patients with congenital heart disease.
“The availability of this system means that patients who in the past would automatically need surgery no longer need to endure invasive open-heart surgery to treat their congenital heart disease,” Dr. Rajiv Verma, pediatric and adult congenital heart disease specialist, interventional cardiologist and director of the Children’s Heart Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, who performed the procedure, stated. “Most of the patients who are eligible for the procedure are teenagers and young adults. Not only does the new system allow for quicker recovery, patients are typically discharged in a day and can resume regular activities within a week, but it can help keep young patients potentially free of cardiac surgery for an additional 10-20 years.”
“Advances in diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease mean patients are now living well into adulthood,” said Dr. Marc Cohen, chair of the Department of Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. “As the only hospital in New Jersey currently offering access to the Edwards Sapien 3 Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve System with Alterra Adaptive Prestent, we are proud to be able to bring a treatment to patients that can significantly reduce the number of surgeries and procedures during their lifetimes and help improve their overall quality of life.”
