On December 5, 2006, cardiac surgeon, Jamie Brown, M.D., an associate professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, will present a webcast of a minimally-invasive aortic valve replacement from the University of Maryland Heart Center in Baltimore. The aortic valve separates the heart's left ventricle from the rest of the body. Because it functions in the high pressure system it needs to function well, allowing blood out of the heart but at the same time preventing blood from traveling backwards. When the aortic valve is blocked, a patient is diagnosed with aortic stenosis. In severe cases of this condition, the aortic valve needs to be replaced or the heart will fail. When a patient needs an aortic valve replacement, there are several options to accomplish this. A biologic (tissue) valve made of tissue from human cadaver donor, pig (porcine) valve tissue, or cow (bovine) tissue may be used. A mechanical valve may also be an option. During this webcast, you...