Cardiologists at the Apollo Hospitals have created a record of sorts by treating five critically ill patients suffering from valve disease with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in a single day.
TAVR, one of the latest advancements in the field of cardiology, is a minimally invasive and suture-less procedure performed to replace damaged aortic valve and is a boon for patients with high surgical risk, said Dr. A. Sreenivas Kumar, senior consultant cardiologist and director, Cardiology and Clinical Research, Apollo Hospitals.
High-risk patients
The five patients, who underwent TAVR on January 14, were in advanced age, critical condition and had high risk for open heart surgery for valve replacement. They were breathless and could not sit, sleep and had to endure terrible discomfort.
After the novel procedure, all of them were discharged the following day, Dr. Kumar said.
This is the first time such a medical feat was performed in India, he claimed. “The procedure is safe and effective with 95% success rate,” he said.
Most patients coming for this procedure were in a critical condition and therefore, flawless protocol was essential, said Dr. K.Hari Prasad, president-Hospitals Division, Apollo Hospitals Group.
With improvement in lifestyle and consequent increase in life span, diseases afflicting elders is on the rise and aortic valve disease belongs to that category. About 30 to 40% of aortic valve patients, if not treated in time, would die within 18 months to two years, said doctors.
Aortic valve replacement was conventionally done by performing an open heart surgery. But 40%of the patients were found to be ineligible for the surgery due to the high risk on account of advanced age and associated health problems. However, TAVR has given them new hope and the procedure has become affordable with Indian valves bringing down the cost, he said.