A group of doctors at Duke Health in Durham achieved a medical breakthrough by performing the world’s first living mitro valve replacement, a type of partial heart transplant. In this innovative procedure, healthy valves were taken from the heart of a patient receiving a full heart transplant and then used to replace the valves of other patients in need. The breakthrough became possible after 11-year-old Joury Kelly from Wilson received a full heart transplant following a diagnosis of heart failure; valves removed from her explanted heart were used in the procedure.
The healthy valves from Kelly’s heart were used to save the lives of two other young patients. The first recipient was 14-year-old Margaret Van Bugan, a cross-country track runner from Charlotte, while the second was 9-year-old Kenley Frizzle from Pimbrook in Robinson County. All three girls underwent successful surgeries, marking a significant milestone in cardiac and transplant innovation. Doctors noted that operations like these not only save lives but also open new avenues for future research, with Duke Health having performed over 20 partial heart transplants worldwide.
Medical professionals expressed excitement over the continuous evolution of partial heart transplants, emphasizing that each successful procedure builds on previous results to expand their capabilities. All three patients are reportedly doing well after their surgeries, underscoring the life-saving potential of this breakthrough.
