A new way to replace heart valves.

• Author: Zipes, Douglas
• Position: Neighborhood Heart Watch

A groundbreaking surgery pioneered by Dr. John Brown at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis may greatly improve the quality of life for patients who require replacement of the hardest working of the heart's four valves--the mitral valve on the left side of the heart.

In the new procedure, the malfunctioning mitral valve is replaced with the patient's own pulmonary valve taken from the less stressed right side of the heart. This valve is then replaced with tissue from a human donor.

"This procedure is a tremendous advance and offers great opportunities for many people," said Dr. Brown, who is also Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the IU School of Medicine. "It allows patients to function...