Paul Sorajja, MD, an interventional cardiologist at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, has contributed to the development of a new treatment for patients with severe mitral annular calcification (MAC), a condition where calcium buildup around the heart valve makes traditional surgery dangerous. Dr. Sorajja was the first in the world to use the Tendyne device to treat this condition in 2016.
“We had patients coming to us who were told nothing could be done,” said Dr. Sorajja. “These were patients whose heart valves were failing, but they were too high-risk for open-heart surgery.”
The Tendyne device, now approved by the FDA, allows doctors to replace damaged heart valves through a minimally invasive procedure using a small incision between the ribs. This approach offers an alternative for elderly patients with MAC, who previously faced limited options due to high surgical risks. Patients typically recover quickly and report significant improvements in daily activities.
Dr. Sorajja led a national study tracking 103 patients who received this treatment. The study found that nearly 90% of participants experienced substantial relief from heart failure symptoms and improved quality of life. The procedure also effectively stopped valve leakage in almost all cases.
“We’re seeing patients who couldn’t walk to their mailbox now able to enjoy time with their grandchildren again,” Dr. Sorajja explained.
Banner Health has played a leading role in advancing this therapy and now serves as a training center for other hospitals adopting the technique. Other Banner Health physicians, including Dr. Rizik and Dr. Ken Fang, contributed to clinical research supporting FDA approval of the Tendyne device.
“This is what medicine is all about – taking something that seemed impossible and making it possible,” said Dr. Sorajja. “We’re giving patients and families hope where there wasn’t any before.”
Banner Health operates as one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the United States, serving 3.5 million people annually across six states with services ranging from hospitals and urgent care centers to virtual doctor visits and insurance options.
