A surgeon at Miami Children’s Hospital’s Congenital Heart Institute has performed the nation’s first heart valve replacement on a premature infant with a severe heart defect by using CorMatrix extracellular matrix material – an innovation that saved one-year-old Analiah Duarte Escorcia’s life and may make it possible for her to avoid future valve replacements common when mechanical or biological valves are used.
Dr. Redmond P. Burke, Director of Cardiovascular Surgery at Miami Children’s Hospital, performed the operation in February 2012. “Analiah was born with two defective heart valves and had very limited options,” said Dr. Burke. “Her heart was massively enlarged and had compressed both of her lungs severely. The mortality rate for this defect is among the highest for any congenital heart problem.”
Dr. Burke used extracellular matrix (ECM) material, developed from porcine intestines by biotechnology leader CorMatrix Cardiovascular, to craft the new valve in the operating room. The valve was then implanted, with sutures anchoring it to the support structures in the child’s right ventricle.
Analiah, now at home with her family, has had a remarkable recovery, with a gradual decrease in her heart’s size, and expansion of her lungs to near normal dimensions. The valve also shows near normal function. The ultimate test of the technology will be the demonstration of growth over time. At a year follow up, the valve continues to function well and she is on minimal medication.
