University Health performs first of its kind pulmonary heart valve replacement in South Texas

University Health’s heart and vascular team continues to celebrate milestones with the first Harmony™ Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve replacement in South Texas.

This valve replacement system provides a less invasive treatment for people with congenital heart disease who need a new pulmonary valve because their right ventricular outflow tract, or RVOT, is not functioning properly. Instead of requiring open-heart surgery, which many patients have had to undergo several times, this valve can be implanted through a catheter inserted in a vein, reducing both risks and recovery time. This approach can help patients return to normal activities sooner and may improve long-term health outcomes.

The team successfully performed this procedure for an adult on May 29 under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Hammadah, an adult interventional cardiologist and associate director of structural heart disease, and Dr. Jessica Heibel, a pediatric interventional cardiologist.

This achievement is a reflection of the strength and growth of the congenital heart program at University Health, which includes Dr. Pankaj Madan, a congenital cardiologist. His vision and direction have been instrumental in building a world-class program that integrates pediatric and adult congenital care to provide the best outcomes for this unique patient population.

"This procedure represents a major advancement for our congenital and structural heart patients," said Dr. Hammadah. "We are committed to bringing the most advanced therapies to patients in our community, ensuring they have access to treatments that were previously unavailable in our region."

"This milestone highlights the power of collaboration between pediatric and adult interventional cardiology,” said Dr. Heibel. “Together, we are providing life-changing therapies for patients with complex congenital heart disease."

The successful implantation of the Harmony™ TPV underscores University Health’s dedication as an academic health center to advancing cardiovascular innovation and a commitment to expanding options for patients with congenital and structural heart conditions.

Visit University Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute to learn more about our advanced treatments for heart disease.