“The Harmony valves are nice because they’re designed for native pulmonary outflow tracts,” said Evans. “They sit in a large part of the heart coming out to the lungs and actually replace a valve, all done through the leg.”

According to Evans, patients who receive the Harmony valve typically recover quickly – often going home the next day. “It’s very nice to say, ‘Oh, you had a problem, we were able to fix it, and now you’re home,’” she said. “That’s really nice to be able to see that.”

Evans, who holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience and transitioned from neuroscience to cardiology, emphasized the unique capabilities of the cardiac catheterization lab. “Cardiology is fascinating from a physiology standpoint,” she said. “This is where we can actually see what’s going on with the heart and what we can do about it.”

The Harmony valve represents a significant step forward in pediatric cardiology, especially for children born with congenital heart defects. “Hopefully, this will keep some of those patients from needing open-heart surgery,” Evans said. “This is something that’s done with a big team of people, and we have that here. To be able to make a difference in all of those kids’ lives means a lot.”

As technology continues to evolve, Evans said she’s excited to see what’s next. “It’s fun to see new things come in and more and more that we’re able to do in the cath lab,” she said. “It’s happening pretty fast.”

To learn more about the Wilson Heart Center, click here.
Source: Valley Children's Healthcare, Madera, CA.