FAHC Has Groundbreaking Heart Procedure - FOX44 - Burlington / Plattsburgh News, Weather & Sports

FAHC Has Groundbreaking Heart Procedure

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Burlington, Vt. - Fletcher Allen Health Care has a new trial procedure that is saving lives.

It uses a catheter to place a special device inside a broken valve in the heart. The catheter is fed up through a patient's artery.

This procedure is an alternative to open heart surgery which doctors say is too dangerous for elderly or fragile patients. Without it, doctors say these patients would be left with no other option.

"To be presented with an option for them to have a dramatic improvement in the quality of their life and the duration of life is something they're very appreciative of," heart surgeon Dr. Harold Dauerman said.

Doctors at Fletcher have treated six patients with the procedure since February and they anticipate that number will continue to grow.

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