Procedure to Fix Pediatric Heart Condition without Major Surgery Introduced at Loma Linda

A minimally-invasive procedure that fixes a pediatric heart condition without the need for open-heart surgery has been introduced at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Pediatric cardiologists at the medical center’s International Heart Institute recently implanted Melody Valves on three pediatric patients with narrowed valves in their hearts. The minimally-invasive procedures are believed to be the first such procedures for the Inland Empire.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer this technology and procedure at Loma Linda University Medical Center,” said Dr. Micheal Kuhn, Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at the LLUMC International Heart Institute.

“Some children are born with critical narrowing of the valves in their heart. What this does is take the place of open heart surgery in a less invasive way, with no surgical incisions, bleeding and surgical scars.”

The Melody Valve, manufactured by Minneapolis, Minn.-based Medtronic Inc., is the first FDA-approved transcatheter heart valve procedure for children with failing pulmonary valves. During the procedure, the catheter (a thin, hollow tube) holding the Melody Valve is inserted into a vein in the leg and guided to the heart. The heart valve is attached to a stent (a wire frame) that expands with help of a balloon to push open the blocked pulmonary conduit.

Specialists at Loma Linda University Medical Center spent about a year training and preparing before making the procedure available at the hospital.