A team St Bartholomew’s Hospital has become the first in the UK to use a new type of implant to treat aortic regurgitation - a condition that affects 1 in 20 people.

Aortic regurgitation occurs when blood doesn't flow correctly out of the heart and leaks backwards. As the heart starts to work harder, it can weaken and lead to heart failure. The condition ranges in severity.

Until now, surgery was the only successful treatment option, but for many patients this was deemed too high-risk. Patients not fit enough for surgery are sometimes offered another type of valve implant and whilst these could relieve symptoms, they would often slip out of place and have to be removed.

The latest procedure using the new Jenavalve’ implant, developed in Germany, is non-invasive and takes less than an hour.

Professor Andreas Baumbach, who led the team at St. Bartholomew’s said:

"We have been waiting a long time for this. Previously we would consider using other valves as a treatment. Now, we have a dedicated device to cure the condition.

"We are the first group outside of the research group to do the procedure, and the only centre in the UK who can offer it. So far, we have seen perfect results with a 100 per cent success rate, – there’s been nothing like it before.

"It is great that we can make this treatment available at St. Bartholomew’s, and give new hope to our patients."