UPMC in Central Pa. is the First Site in Pennsylvania to Enroll Patients in the Study of Pi-Cardia’s ShortCut™ Device

February 17, 2023

The Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC in Central Pa. became the first site in Pennsylvania to use the investigational ShortCut™ device by Pi-Cardia, as part of a clinical trial in patients with a risk for coronary ostium obstruction following a repeated bioprosthetic valve implantation. ShortCut™ is the world's first dedicated device designed to split the leaflets of a pre-existing valve to enable safe Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) in patients and is currently being used under IDE study for investigational use only.

“As the number of patients with aortic stenosis continues to grow, Shortcut™ may offer important new treatment options for both physicians and patients while addressing an unmet need for a simple tool to prevent coronary obstruction,” said Hemal Gada M.D., president of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa.

Pi-Cardia is a global leader in the development of unique non-implant-based solutions for treating heart valves. Through this clinical trial, Pi-Cardia's hopes to demonstrate ShortCut™ as a safe, simple and effective way to split the leaflets of a pre-existing valve prior to TAVR in order to maintain coronary access in patients at risk for coronary obstruction or compromised coronary access.

Pioneers in cardiovascular health since 1956, doctors at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in central Pennsylvania were the first in the region to perform open heart surgery and the first to perform coronary artery balloon angioplasty. Other firsts include the implantation of a drug-eluting coronary stent, minimally invasive aortic valve procedures (TAVR) and the implantation of FDA-approved percutaneous mitral valve repair device.

Patients who are planning to undergo a minimally invasive valve-in-valve procedure due to a failed bioprosthetic valve may be a candidate to be enrolled in this study. For more information on the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa., visit UPMC.com/CentralPaHeart.