Irish patients have heart valves replaced without open surgery

"In a major breakthrough in the treatment of heart disease in the Republic of Ireland, for the first time a patient here has had a heart valve replaced without the need for open-heart surgery. Two patients in their 80s had replacement aortic valves placed inside their hearts using a new form of keyhole surgery. The groundbreaking procedures, each of which took two hours to perform, were carried out at the Blackrock Clinic, Dublin, last Wednesday" - Irish Times