A New, Advanced Surgical Technique for Your Child
Living allogenic valve replacement is a groundbreaking new treatment for children with severe heart valve disease. This innovative surgery offers the potential of a long-lasting treatment, which minimizes the disadvantages associated repeated valve replacements.
In modern practice, children who need a new heart valve (especially aortic and pulmonary) have the following surgical options:
- Ross procedure, where the patient's own pulmonary valve is used to replace the aortic valve, while the pulmonary valve is replaced by a new valve. Traditionally, this replacement valve is a non-living donor valve (homograft).
- Artificial valve replacement (usually means a mechanical valve), which has a big drawback, as it can’t grow with the child. It also requires the need for long-term blood-thinning medication and can have some serious side effects. Also, some babies are too small for this type of valve.
- Homograft valve replacement. These valves also can’t grow, which means children will require multiple surgeries as they age.
Living allogenic valve replacement is different, as the donor valve tissue is kept alive, similar to an organ transplant. It has the potential to grow with the child. And that means it can last a long time, potentially a lifetime.
Vast Experience in Valvular Operations
Cincinnati Children’s heart surgery teams have performed thousands of valve repairs and replacements. And we’re excited to offer living allogenic valve replacement (sometimes called partial heart transplant) as a promising new option. Early research suggests this approach is safe and effective and may contribute to longer, healthier lives for children with valve (valvar) disease.
The Living Allogenic Valve Replacement Program builds on a long tradition of expert, collaborative care at the Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute.
An Expert Team of Specialists
The Living Allogenic Valve Replacement Program brings together experienced pediatric heart specialists in:
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Heart failure and transplant
- Cardiac imaging
- Cardiac intensive care
- Cardiac catheterization
We welcome patients and families from across the country to explore this treatment option with us. Our physicians offer in-person and telehealth visits to help you learn about the surgery and the living valve evaluation process.
When you’re ready, we’ll schedule an in-person evaluation for your child. The evaluation includes appointments with our team, lab work and imaging studies.
We also partner with your local cardiologist, so your child can get follow-up care close to home after surgery.
