Alyssa Ferrie, born with severe pulmonary valve stenosis, was among the first paediatric patients in Scotland to receive a self-expanding pulmonary valve using a catheter-based approach — avoiding repeat open-heart surgery and cutting recovery from weeks to days.
An 11-year-old, Alyssa Ferrie, received a self-expanding pulmonary valve at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children and was discharged two days later, a much faster recovery than after prior open-heart surgery.
The procedure inserts a replacement valve via a small tube through a vein, removing the need to open the chest for carefully selected patients.
Clinical leads said the technology shortens hospital stays and recovery, and has been introduced as an option for children and young people with congenital heart disease in Scotland.
# What happened
# Why this mattered to her family Alyssa was born with severe pulmonary valve stenosis and has had multiple heart issues and regular cardiac follow-ups since birth. Three years earlier she had open-heart surgery that led to a five-week hospital stay, including more than three weeks in intensive care, an induced coma for two weeks and complications such as collapsed lungs and sepsis. That earlier experience left Alyssa and her family anxious about further surgery.
Her mother, Pamela Ferrie, said the family was apprehensive when told the new valve procedure hadn't been performed on a child in Scotland before, but nurses provided information and reassurance about the trials behind the treatment. Pamela described the catheter approach as "a complete game changer," noting the faster physical recovery and the positive effect on Alyssa's anxiety. Because of the quick recovery, Alyssa was able to start high school alongside her peers.
# How the procedure works The team used a catheter-based delivery system: a small tube inserted into a vein guides a self-expanding pulmonary valve into place. The valve expands at the target site to replace the failing pulmonary valve. For carefully selected patients this avoids repeat open-heart operations, significantly reducing time under general anaesthetic, the invasiveness of the operation and length of hospital admission.
# What clinicians said Dr Mohammad Ryan Abumehdi, Consultant Interventional Paediatric and Congenital Cardiologist for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, described the introduction of self-expanding pulmonary valve technology as a significant step forward for children and young people with congenital heart disease in Scotland. He said that when patients are carefully selected, the procedure can replace a failing pulmonary valve without an open operation, leading to shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and less family disruption.
Jamie Redfern, Director of the Royal Hospital for Children, said the milestone demonstrates the hospital's commitment to bringing the latest evidence-based treatments to children across Scotland and that minimally invasive technologies can improve patient experience while reducing the need for major surgery and lengthy admissions.
# Immediate outcomes and next steps
# Takeaway for families and care teams For children with congenital pulmonary valve problems who might otherwise face repeat open-heart surgery, a catheter-delivered self-expanding pulmonary valve offers a less invasive alternative with a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery for appropriately selected patients. Families should discuss eligibility, risks, and expected recovery with paediatric cardiology teams.
Alyssa was born with severe pulmonary valve stenosis, a congenital heart condition that affects blood flow from her heart to her lungs.
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