Defective Heart Valves News

New Valve For Old Hearts
BACKGROUND:  Defective heart valves are one of the most common causes of heart failure in the elderly.  A defective heart valve is one that fails to open and close fully.   A valve also may not be able to close completely, leading to regurgitation (blood leaking back through the valve).  Usually people who have congenital heart valve defects may need treatment with drugs, but some have to ...
Healthy Living: Heart valve replacement procedure for high-risk patients
More patients than ever have heart valve diseases. Up to 1.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from a buildup of calcium on the valve, causing the heart to have to work harder to pump blood. Doctors say because it's a problem of old age, they've seen an increase in the disease as the population continues to age. Previously open heart surgery was the only treatment. But as our Katie Gibas reports ...
French drugmaker on trial over weight-loss pill
NANTERRE, France (Reuters) - French drugmaker Servier and its founder went on trial on Monday accused of misleading patients and authorities about a diabetes drug often prescribed for weight loss that officials blame for at least 500 deaths. The case, one of France's worst health scandals, has put authorities under scrutiny for allowing the sale of Mediator long after the medicine had been ...
New procedure helping patients with failing heart valves
Defective valves are one of the most common causes of heart failure in the elderly. While surgery helps some, for others it's just too risky. Now, there's a new, less invasive solution.
Mediator: French Drugmaker On Trial Over Weight-Loss Pill
* At least 500 deaths thought to be caused by Mediator * Drug pulled in France years after other countries * Case put health authorities and industry under scrutiny By Thierry Lévêque NANTERRE, France, May 14 (Reuters) - French drugmaker Servier and its founder went on trial on Monday accused of misleading patients and authorities about a diabetes drug often prescribed for weight loss that ...
DePuy ASR Hip Implants, Other Faulty Medical Devices Subject to Little FDA Oversight, Investigation Finds
A newly-published investigation from ProPublica has revealed that several questionable types of medical devices, including DePuy Orthopaedic’s recalled ASR hip implant, managed to make it to market without much scrutiny on the part of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration … Continue reading →