HONOLULU (AP) - The Queen's Medical Center says it is the first in Hawaii to offer new minimally invasive trans-catheter heart valve replacement.
The hospital also says it's among the first in the nation to use this new technology on patients outside of clinical trials.
The Honolulu hospital announced Monday it has been selected as the only hospital in the state to offer the new treatment of aortic stenosis, a condition of the narrowing of the heart valve. Queen's cardiologist Christian Spies says the treatment can improve the health of those who aren't surgical candidates, compared to standard therapy.
Queen's is also partnering with other Hawaii cardiac surgeons and cardiologists to form the Pacific Valve Consortium, which will help identify and treat patients who can benefit from the new procedure.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
