Trials Planned for Testing Nonsurgical Approach to Replacing Heart Valves.

Discusses an endovascular procedure for elderly or other patients too sick to be candidates for open heart surgery. Details of a successful percutaneous transcatheter implantation of a prosthetic valve in France; Physicians who will lead proposed clinical trials of the procedure in the United States and Europe; Mention of the Percutaneous Valve Technologies, a company in New Jersey that will fund the research; Outlook for the procedure to replace conventional aortic valve surgery.