Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai Performs Transcutaneous Heart Valve Replacement in 78 Year-Old Man Without Open Heart Surgery

Transformative Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure allows treating patients with valve diseases who are unsuitable or high risk for open heart surgery

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India – Business Wire India

TAVR or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, a percutaneous procedure, was successfully performed at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai. A 78-year old man who could not undergo open heart valve replacement surgery due to co-existing health issues including past history of bypass surgery was treated using this advanced technique. The patient has recovered well and will be discharged soon.

The 78-year old patient, a resident of Nerul in Navi Mumbai was suffering from severe breathing issues, even on mild exertion since last six months affecting his daily routine. He consulted the cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai where he was diagnosed with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis. A second surgery was very risky due to his age and poor health. But with TAVR, there is now new hope for these patients.

TAVR also is known as TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) makes it possible to treat patients who were previously deemed an unsuitable or too high risk for surgery. Whereas in conventional open heart surgery, the chest cavity needs to be opened by cutting through the sternum to allow the surgeon to operate on the heart, TAVR is a non-surgical technique where heart valves are replaced via needle-puncture of the skin, rather than a scalpel.

Dr Sanjeev Kalkekar, Consultant, Interventional Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals explained, “In TAVR, a miniaturized valve is inserted through a catheter, a thin flexible tube, from the groin into the heart. The deployed valve reaches the base of the aorta at the site of the previous aortic valve. The doctor then opens a balloon which inflates the valve pushing aside the old valve and overcoming the stenosis or narrowing. The entire procedure is conducted under general anaesthesia or mild sedation takes about an hour as compared to 5-6 hours required for open heart surgery.”

TAVR is a game changer for patients with valve disease in India. While the expenses are more as compared to conventional open heart surgery, the benefits are incomparable. TAVR allows many patients with severe aortic valve stenosis who were previously classified as too high risk or inoperable to be effectively treated, giving them a second opportunity at a healthy life. Interventional cardiology methods such as ‘TAVR’ has redefined the lives of people with an improved quality of life, even in people aged above 70/80. Interventional methods can help many patients who are suffering from severe cardiac risks.

The 78-year patient is showing remarkable improvement. He started speaking normally right after 45 minutes of the procedure and has been discharged from the hospital, in a stable condition.

Dr Sai Satish, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals said, “TAVR is a godsend for patients who are unfit for open heart valve replacement surgery. One of the most common forms of valve disease is calcification that affects the leaflets (parts which open and close with the flow of blood) of the aortic valve. The leaflets get affected by fat deposition over 10 to 15 years with inflammation and hardening. Patients often present with symptoms only after the age of 70-75 years. At this age, 35% of patients are not suitable for surgery. The catch is that if not treated, 50% of them will not survive for more than a year or two. TAVR can increase the patient’s life between 8 to 9 years. So far, the success rate of this procedure in India is around 95%.”

Santosh Marathe, COO, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, said, “The face of healthcare in the Navi Mumbai region is undergoing a sea change with advanced medical technology available to help address complex conditions in patients. From organ transplants including heart transplants, minimally invasive surgery to interventional cardiology, the incomparable benefits of the latest advances will help patients who are inoperable or at high risk to be treated effectively and get a second opportunity for a healthy life.”

About Apollo Hospitals

It was in 1983 that Dr Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital - Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Over the years Apollo Hospitals has established itself as home to the largest cardiac practice in India with over 160,000 cardiac surgeries. Apollo Hospitals is also the world’s largest private cancer care provider and runs the world’s leading solid organ transplant program.

As Asia’s largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes over 10,000 beds across 71 Hospitals, 3000 Pharmacies, over 90 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 110 plus Telemedicine Centres and 80 plus Apollo Munich Insurance branches spanning the length and breadth of the Country.

As an integrated healthcare service provider with Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy capability, over 15 medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical breakthroughs with the most recent investment being that of commissioning the first Proton Therapy Center across Asia, Africa, and Australia in Chennai, India. Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of International standards within reach of every individual.

In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo's contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 30 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services, and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.

For further details, log onto www.apollohospitals.com

(With inputs from agencies.)