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Heart Tissue Valves Offer Life Continuity

Silvia Avila - Edwards Lifesciences Mexico
Senior Finance Manager & Country Representative

STORY INLINE POST

Miriam Bello By Miriam Bello | Senior Journalist and Industry Analyst - Mon, 10/12/2020 - 13:23

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Q: What has made Edwards Lifesciences a global leader in heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring?

A: We are driven by a passion for helping patients. Our permanent goal is to continue collaborate with clinicians and researchers that focus on developing innovative technology and highly differentiated products in the areas of structural heart disease and hemodynamic monitoring to help patients live longer, healthier and more productively. Edwards’ leading influence is based on our close collaboration with surgeons and the strong patient-focus team that always looks for the best outcome for the patient. Our leadership is committed to maintaining our ethical culture with values as Integrity, honesty, openness and fairness. At Edwards, we recognize that success is built on integrity and on the highest ethical standards. For the 3rd consecutive year, Edwards Lifesciences was honored as one of the 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies. Edwards was one of the only two companies recognized in the medical devices Industry.

The number of patients requiring treatment for cardiovascular disease has increased dramatically and we offer innovative solutions that address this growing patient populations, giving them the opportunity to have a longer and healthier life.

Q: What are the main benefits Edwards Lifesciences’ products bring to the Mexican population?

A: Since 1960 when we began commercializing our first heart valve, we have consistently grown our offering and innovative solutions, which has reflected in our R&D investment of 15 percent of our sales today. All of our valves are made from tissue, unlike traditional mechanical valves. Despite tissue valves having great benefits for the patient, in Mexico 70 percent of the valves used in patients are mechanical, so we have a long road ahead to keep promoting our already successful tissue solutions. Edwards Lifesciences is focused on close collaboration with surgeons, hospitals and institutions in Mexico to promote the benefits of these products, including fewer dietary restrictions, freedom to live a more active lifestyle, no need for long term anticoagulants and the comfort of a non-clicking sound with every heartbeat that emits any mechanical valve.

Aside from tissue valves, we also offer transcatheter heart valves for those patients considered at intermediate or greater risk for open surgical therapy. This therapy ensures faster procedures, shorter hospital stays and exceptional patient outcomes.

Q: Who are your main clients in Mexico?

A: Our work with the public sector has grown considerably and now, 60 percent of our operations are in this sector through direct or indirect sales. Our advanced hemodynamic monitoring platform Hemosphere is now being used at many public hospitals throughout the country. We think of this solution as a step toward the future and it is considered a futuristic smart and innovative monitoring platform that enables proactive clinical decisions for surgical, anesthesia and critical care clinicians and to perform safer medical procedures with higher efficacy, without risking an already critical patient.

This monitoring platform can aid in the screening and treatment of critically ill patients including those with COVID-19. Moreover, our disposable pressure monitoring devices have been used at ICU units and the good results have led to a high demand on this new equipment during this period

Besides COVID-19, our Hemosphere advanced monitoring platform is an ally for doctors to detect any anomaly exhibited by the patient so they can act before a condition develops, thus avoiding serious complications related to a late diagnosis. 

Q: How does the company promote preventive healthcare?

A: Through the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, we are very committed to sharing information and knowledge and promoting better lifestyles among patients suffering cardiovascular disease. We also promote awareness of cardiovascular diseases, its prevention and treatment and our goal is to reach at least 1 million people with these benefits. Our patient centricity has driven us look for collaborators that are also committed to creating a preventive healthcare culture within our community and to improving patients’ lives.

Q: How has COVID-19 changed you goals and the way the company approaches clients?

A: We want to be partners with physicians by providing virtual courses to cardiologist that focus on valve disease and its therapeutical approaches using our technology and solutions. Edwards Lifesciences has also taken part in the digital initiatives and transformation by organizing webinars, offering surgical simulators and maintaining digital communication and a close relationship with our customers.

As the pandemic first hit, sales volumes of some products decreased because surgeries were being moved. However, this balanced out with the strong demand for the company´s disposable pressure monitoring devices used in intensive care units as a result of COVID-19.  Also, we had an improvement in TAVR procedures and important orders of our Hemosphere advanced monitoring platform.

Despite COVID-19, the company remains encouraged and focused on transforming care for patients with Mitral and Tricuspid valvular disease through (TMTT) business line which will be launched in Mexico soon.

 

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease as well as critical care and surgical monitoring

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