Frederick C. Lough, MD, Director, George Washington University Hospital Cardiac Surgery Program and Clinical Professor of Surgery, uses a stentless valve which, he says, helps patients heal more quickly and often eliminates the need for long-term blood thinners.

Regular exercise saved the life of Annapolis resident David Peltz -- but not in the way you might think. The 66-year-old contractor started noticing minor chest pains while exercising. "When I stopped, the pain would go away," he recalls. "But I still thought I should get checked."

He sought help not a moment too soon. At The George Washington University Hospital, a cardiac catheterization procedure revealed that David's aortic valve had severely degenerated. The aortic valve separates the heart's main pumping chamber from the aorta, which is the vessel that carries blood to the rest of the body.

For David, learning about his heart condition was a surprise, but even more shocking was finding out what could have happened if he had done nothing about it. "I was told that I could have had a massive heart attack or stroke any time," he says. "I couldn't believe it. Just days before, I'd been planning a whitewater rafting trip in the Grand Canyon with my kids."

The Freestyle Stentless Heart Valve (shown above) uses the patient's own aortic wall for support and is typically larger than traditional stented valves, so it allows for increased blood flow and better pumping efficiency. VALVE PHOTO COURTESY OF MEDTRONIC, INC.

Valve Design Helps
Blood Flow, Speeds Recovery
David put himself in the capable hands of Frederick C. Lough, MD, Director, Cardiac Surgery Program at GW Hospital, who operated the next day. Dr. Lough implanted a new type of aortic valve with a "stentless" design. A typical replacement valve is supported by a metal and cloth framework, or stent. But the stent usually takes up additional space in the aorta, which can limit blood flow. However, stentless valves use the patient's own aortic walls for support. The surgeon usually can implant a larger-sized valve, providing increased blood flow and better pumping efficiency.

Stentless valves are flexible and function like a natural valve. "I've been performing valve replacements for 20 years, and I've seen that patients who receive this valve typically recover much more quickly than patients with traditional valves," Dr. Lough says.

Also, patients who receive stentless valves do not need blood thinners for the rest of their lives, as with mechanical valves. This is a significant benefit, as long-term use of blood thinners can interfere with normal blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding.

David Peltz

Advantage of Early Treatment
Dr. Lough noted that David made the right decision to seek evaluation and treatment early and put his vacation plans on hold. "Have your heart checked regularly," he adds. "If you have valve disease, it's much better to tackle the problem early to allow for the best possible surgical outcome."

David is certainly glad he heeded this advice, and today he is resuming normal activities. "My heart feels fine," he says. "Now, when I'm walking on the treadmill, I feel like I could walk all day."

For a referral to a GW Hospital cardiac surgeon, please call 1-888-4GW-DOCS.

900 23rd St., NW, Washington, DC 20037 (202) 715-4000