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Cow Tissue Valve Relieves Ailing Heart

Memorial Hermann is first in Houston with replacement heart part

Houston, Texas, February 16, 2004 – A 76-year-old El Campo man was the first patient in the Houston area to receive a replacement aortic valve made of bovine, or cow, tissue.

Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital cardiovascular surgeon Luis Echeverri, M.D. recently installed the Perimount Magna tissue heart valve in Gregorio Gusman, whose aortic valve had grown so damaged that even taking a few steps to cross his kitchen left him breathless.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November, the Perimount can last as long as 20 years and does not require lifelong anticoagulants, or blood thinners, which are necessary with mechanical valves.

“It is more functional, allows better blood flow for the patient and has a good, long life for a biological valve,” says Echeverri. “For larger patients, the inside diameter of this valve has been expanded so you can get good blood flow and no pressure difference.”

According to the American Heart Association, diseased or defective aortic valves cause 20,000 deaths and hospitalize 70,000 Americans each year. Failure of the aortic valve to open and close fully means blood is pumped through a smaller opening, depriving the heart muscle of sufficient blood supply. Inadequate blood flow can cause dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath and fatigue and can even lead to congestive heart failure.

“I never dreamed I’d feel this well,” said Gusman, just two days after the surgery that also served to clear three blocked arteries and repair a hole in his heart. “I have no more chest pain. I feel good, like nothing happened.” Five days after his operation, Gusman returned home where he is receiving physical therapy, walking daily and has resumed playing his accordion and harmonica.

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