New "closed-heart surgery" revolutionizes surgery

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

A new procedure dubbed "closed-heart" surgery is revolutionizing the way patients get new heart valves. Rather than cracking the rib cage open to insert the new valves, doctors are now simply making a two-inch incision and threading a new valve in by wire.

 

The procedure can even be done while the heart is still beating, and allows patients to get out of the hospital faster. However, at this point, the procedure will only be used for those deemed too sick to receive traditional heart surgery, as it has only been performed on 150 patients and is not "proven" quite yet.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060401/ap_on_he_me/easier_heart_valves