Smallest Mechanical Heart Valve Saved her Life

Baby Sadie received the world's smallest mechanical heart valve, and her life instantly changed. Today, she's a spunky 9-year-old.

Healthy Heart|Nov.20, 2023

A Young Life, Restored:
Only time can tell the fullness of a life's story. Sadie's life story is one we've told … to a point. What you see in the video above is how far she's come living her life as she wants, chasing her dreams and looking ahead — not behind — thanks to what you don't see: Our technology that's helped her reach her next destination in her life’s journey. And to see how far she's come from where we first met her, please keep reading.

Sadie Rutenberg is a 9-year-old who likes the color pink and loves penguins. She's happy, spunky and very friendly.

But Sadie isn't like most children her age — she was the first child in the United States to receive a revolutionary pediatric mechanical heart valve when she was a baby as part of a clinical trial. Now FDA approved, the dime-sized valve is the world’s smallest, and suitable for treating the tiniest patients including newborns and babies 1-year-old and younger.

Before Sadie was born, an ultrasound showed the walls between her heart's left and right chambers were not forming properly. As a newborn, she was diagnosed with a congenital heart problem called complete atrioventricular canal defect.

"Imagine a giant hole in the upstairs chamber of your heart, and a giant hole in the downstairs chamber, so the middle is essentially missing," explained Dr. Jonathan Chen, who was chief of pediatric cardiovascular surgery and co-director of Seattle Children's Heart Center.

Smallest Mechanical Heart Valve Saved her Life

When Sadie's parents took her to the cardiologist for what they thought was a routine visit, the doctor told them she had to be admitted to the hospital. At that moment, Sadie's parents realized just how sick she was.

She needed surgery right away.

But given the replacement valves that were available at the time, it would take years until Sadie's heart was big enough to make the surgery a success. Sadie didn't have that time. Over the next two weeks, Sadie underwent two surgeries to repair the defect. It wasn't enough, and Sadie was still unable to thrive the way a growing and healthy newborn should.

Dr. Chen suggested a clinical trial for Sadie, which was evaluating the world's smallest mechanical heart valve, made by Abbott, in pediatric patients 5 years of age or younger. Seattle Children's Hospital was one of 40 sites nationwide participating in Abbott's trial. Sadie's age and size made her the perfect candidate.

And, it was her only option.

"We wanted Sadie to be a part of the trial because it could hopefully save her life." said Wendy Rutenberg, Sadie's mom.

"I remember Dr. Chen coming out after the surgery. That initial moment where we’re looking at him and wondering, 'Is he going to give us good news or bad news?' Then he broke into a smile. It was like winning the lottery," Wendy shared.

"When Dr. Chen told us the Abbott valve worked, and that it improved her heart function as much as it did ... as a parent, I can't put into words the happiness and emotion I felt. It's a moment I'll never forget,” said Sadie's dad, Lee'or.

pediatric heart valve
Now Sadie can visit the zoo and all her favorite animals.

The surgery to place the valve couldn't have gone better. Instantly, Sadie's heart function improved dramatically. She quickly began gaining weight and became more alert and active. Soon, her parents were able to bring her home where she's continued to grow and now is enjoying life as a 9-year-old should, playing with toys, running around at the playground and going to the zoo.

"Once she got the valve, the next day she was a totally different kid. It was amazing to watch how just fixing that problem can completely change you," Dr. Chen said.

"I think the future is really bright. She is going to have some limitations, but she has so much opportunity ahead of her now. If that clinical trial hadn't been available, we would have started planning for her death rather than planning for her life, setting up a college fund and all the things that parents typically do," Wendy expressed.

Sadie is aware she has a heart issue, but it doesn’t bring her down. Instead, she says she has a “sparkle” in her heart, something she and Dr. Chen came up with together.

"She's a firecracker. You would never know she's been through the heart surgeries she has," Lee'or said. "That valve saved her life."

This story was originally published in February of 2018 and updated on Nov. 20, 2023.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

RX ONLY

INDICATIONS FOR USE

The SJM™ Masters Series Mechanical Heart Valve is intended for use as a replacement valve in patients with a diseased, damaged, or malfunctioning mitral or aortic heart valve. This device may also be used to replace a previously implanted mitral or aortic prosthetic heart valve. The sizer model 905-15 is indicated to confirm size selection of the 15AHPJ-505 and 15MHPJ-505 valves.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

The SJM™ Masters Series Mechanical Heart Valve is contraindicated for individuals unable to tolerate anticoagulation therapy. The sizer model 905-15 is contraindicated for use with any devices other than the 15 AHPJ-505 and 15MHPJ-505 valves. Any sizer sterilization method other than steam is contraindicated.

WARNINGS

Valve

  • For single use only. Attempts to reuse the valve may result in valve malfunction, inadequate sterilization, or patient harm.
  • Use only St. Jude Medical™ mechanical heart valve sizers. 
  • Do not use if:
    • The valve has been dropped, damaged, or mishandled in any way.           
    • The expiration date has elapsed.
    • The tamper-evident container seal or inner/ outer tray seals are damaged, broken, or missing. 
  • Remove any residual tissue that may impair valve size selection, correct seating of the valve, rotation of the valve, or leaflet motion.
  • Proper valve size selection is crucial. Do not oversize the valve. If the native annulus measurement falls between two SJM™ Masters Series Mechanical Heart Valve sizes, use the smaller prosthetic valve size. 
  • The outer tray is not sterile, and should not be placed in the sterile field. 
  • To minimize direct handling of the valve during implantation, do not remove the holder/rotator until the valve has been seated in the annulus. 
  • Do not use hard or rigid instruments to test leaflet mobility, as this may result in structural damage to the valve or thromboembolic complications. Use a St. Jude Medical™ leaflet tester to gently test valve leaflet mobility. 
  • Place sutures in the outer half of the valve sewing cuff. 
  • Never apply force to the valve leaflets. Force may cause structural damage to the valve. 
  • Use only SJM™ Valve Holder/Rotators to perform valve rotation. Use of other instruments could result in structural damage. The valve holder/rotator is intended for single use only and should be discarded after surgery.
  • The two retention sutures on the valve holder/ rotator must be cut and removed before the valve can be rotated. 
  • Do not pass catheters or other instruments through St. Jude Medical™ mechanical heart valves. This could result in scratched or damaged valve components, leaflet fracture, or dislodgment.
  • Cut suture ends short, especially in the vicinity of the pivot guards, to prevent leaflet impingement

PRECAUTIONS

Valve

  • Do not touch the prosthetic valve unnecessarily, even with gloved hands. This may cause scratches or surface imperfections that may lead to thrombus formation. 
  • Be careful not to cut or tear the valve sewing cuff when removing the identification tag and the holder/rotator from the valve. 
  • Before placing sutures in the valve sewing cuff, verify that the valve is mounted correctly on the valve holder/rotator. • To avoid structural damage, the valve must be rotated in the fully open position. 
  • To minimize rotational torque, verify that the valve holder/rotator is properly seated in the valve, and that the valve holder handle is perpendicular to the valve. 
  • Remove any loose suture or thread, which may be a source of thrombus or thromboembolism. 
  • Implantation of a prosthetic valve too large for the annulus may result in increased risk of damage to the conductive system, obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract, impairment of valve mobility, damage to the left circumflex artery, and damage to surrounding tissues or cardiac structures including obstruction and/or distortion of adjacent cardiac structures. 
  • NOTE: PROSPECTIVE DATA TO SUPPORT SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 15-mm HP VALVE IMPLANTED IN THE AORTIC POSITION ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. 

Sizer

  • Instruments must be cleaned and sterilized prior to use. 
  • Do not use cracked, deformed, discolored/rusted, or damaged instruments. 
  • Improper cleaning may result in an immunological or toxic reaction. 
  • Instrument sterilization temperature must not exceed 280°F (138°C). 
  • Do not bend flexible instrument handles beyond a 90° angle. 
  • Instruments must be sterilized in a tray or container that is permeable to steam. 
  • Do not expose instruments to cleaning or rinse agents that are not compatible with polysulfone or polyphenylsulfone.

POTENTIAL ADVERSE EVENTS

Complications associated with replacement mechanical heart valves include, but are not limited to, hemolysis, infections, thrombus, or thromboembolism, valve dehiscence, unacceptable hemodynamic performance, hemorrhagic complications secondary to anticoagulation therapy, heart block requiring pacemaker implant, prosthetic failure, adjacent cardiac structure interference, heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, or death. Any of these complications may require reoperation or explantation of the device.