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The largest study to examine outcomes for patients treated with a minimally invasive procedure to repair a poorly functioning mitral valve in the heart found that the procedure was safe and resulted in a successful repair for nearly 9 out of 10 patients, researchers reported. Patients whose procedure was successful were half as likely to die within one year. "Our analysis showed that in an older patient population with limited therapeutic options, transcatheter-based mitral valve repair was safe and was effective in reducing valve leakage from severe to moderate or less in almost 90% of patients," said Raj R. Makkar,...

HIS drawings, diagrams and maps have excited and inspired us for half a millennium. Now once more Leonardo da Vinci has proved that he was far ahead of his time — and ours. A leading heart and lung specialist has been inspired by anatomical discoveries made by Leonardo 500 years ago to change the way he conducts certain operations. Francis Wells, consultant cardiac surgeon at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, said yesterday that he had had a “eureka moment” as he pored over drawings and notes by the artist in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. Mr Wells was studying Leonardo’s...

Scientists have developed a device which they say could help patients who would otherwise need heart surgery. Researchers told the American Cardiology Conference a tiny metal clip could help patients with a faulty heart valve. Patients currently have invasive surgery to replace the valve, so their heart can work properly. But the researchers said the clip, fed to the heart via a vein, repaired the valve so patients did not need surgery. Heart works harder Doctors in the US have so far used the clip to treat 10 patients with mitral regurgitation, where the mitral valve, which regulates the flow...