Sussex hospital first in UK to carry out pioneering heart valve procedure
New treatment being trialled in Brighton could offer hope to patients with limited options
Doctors in Sussex have become the first in the UK to successfully carry out a new heart valve procedure as part of an international clinical trial.
The minimally invasive treatment is being offered at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton to patients with a serious heart condition who have few or no other treatment options available.
The procedure replaces a damaged heart valve using a catheter inserted through a vein in the leg, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery.
University Hospitals Sussex says the treatment is part of the VDyne VISTA Trial, which is assessing whether the technology is a safe and effective option for patients with severe disease.
The Royal Sussex is currently the only hospital in the UK taking part in the trial.