Heart & Vascular Institute - Texas Medical Center

Clinical Trials

Mitral Valve Repair
Memorial Hermann-TMC is the only hospital in Houston and one of three in Texas chosen to participate in the nationwide Endovascular Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair Study, or EVEREST II, investigating the minimally invasive Evalve® Cardiovascular Valve Repair System for the treatment of mitral regurgitation. Applying this method, cardiologists deploy a tiny clip, delivered by a catheter, into the heart to repair the malfunctioning mitral valve. Patients return to normal activity within a week. A new use of valvuloplasty – inserting a special balloon into a narrowed mitral valve – may also delay surgery in mitral stenosis patients for eight to 10 years. For patients who require open surgery for repair, minimally invasive valve surgery techniques are available. They involve approaching the mitral valve through a small incision in the right chest rather than performing a sternotomy.

Tandem Heart Trial
The Heart & Vascular Institute-TMC is one of 40 clinical sites in the United States for the Tandem Heart trial. The Tandem Heart Left Ventricle Assist Device provides circulatory support during high-risk coronary procedures, such as multivessel stenting. The heart assist device pumps approximately a gallon of blood a minute, decreasing stress on a damaged heart.

PATCAR Study
Pre-Hospital Administration of Thrombolytic Therapy with Urgent Culprit Artery Revascularization (PATCAR) speeds up the time in which heart attack victims receive thrombolytic drugs. Under the PATCAR Trial, paramedics wirelessly send an EKG to a cardiologist to approve the immediate administration of thrombolytics. The patient is transported to Memorial Hermann-TMC for follow-up care, which includes angioplasty.