Anantapur, April 17: Doctors at KIMS Saveera Hospital successfully performed a heart valve replacement on a 75-year-old patient without any surgical incision, offering him a new lease of life. The details were shared by Dr. Moode Sandeep, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist.
The patient, a resident of Anantapur district, was admitted with complaints of severe breathlessness and chest pain. Upon evaluation, doctors found that the main heart valve was severely narrowed, restricting proper blood flow. In addition, the major blood vessel (aorta) was slightly twisted and had significant calcium deposits, making the condition more complex.
Given the patient’s advanced age and the complexity of the condition, conventional open-heart surgery posed higher risks and a difficult recovery. The medical team therefore opted for a minimally invasive approach.
Using the advanced Meril Myval valve system, the team successfully performed the procedure without any incision. This marks the first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure using this technology in the Rayalaseema region.
TAVR is a minimally invasive technique that does not require open-heart surgery. In this procedure, a new valve is delivered through a catheter inserted via the femoral artery in the leg and positioned within the diseased aortic valve. This approach results in reduced pain, minimal blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and faster recovery especially beneficial for elderly and high-risk patients.
The procedure was carried out by Dr. Moode Sandeep with support from cardiac anaesthesia specialists Dr. Avaneesh and Dr. Ravi Shankar, along with imaging experts and the cath lab team. The implanted valve is functioning well, and the patient was discharged within 48 to 72 hours.
Typically, aortic valve replacement requires open-heart surgery, which involves higher risk, ICU support, and a longer hospital stay. However, with TAVR/TAVI, the procedure can be completed without surgical cuts or sutures, enabling discharge within a short period. With this achievement, KIMS Saveera Hospital has demonstrated its capability to deliver advanced cardiac care and cutting-edge minimally invasive procedures in a tier-2 city, Dr. Sandeep added.
