Living heart valves grow with children, reduce future operations
Living heart valves grow with children, reducing future operations and immunosuppressants.
Why it matters
- Offers versatile treatment for various pediatric heart conditions.
- Reduces need for multiple surgeries and long-term immunosuppressants.
By the numbers
- 19 children treated, ranging from newborns to teens.
- All valves functioned well without need for reoperation.
- One child stopped immunosuppressants without valve failure.
The big picture
- Could become standard treatment for congenital heart conditions.
- Potential to improve long-term outcomes by reducing surgeries and medication side effects.
Caveats
- Long-term effects not yet fully understood.
What’s next
- Further research on long-term outcomes and broader applications.