East London’s Life St Dominic’s Hospital has introduced groundbreaking surgery in its cardiac treatment, which until now has been available only in the Western Cape and Gauteng, and which has already been performed on two patients since its inception.
The “less invasive” surgery, known as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) which eliminates the need for open-heart surgery, was successful in both cases and the patients are back home and doing well, reports the Daily Dispatch.
Local cardiologist Dr Dave Kettles is part of a team of specialists trained to perform the TAVR procedure on patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.
“Performing this TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) at Life St Dominic’s Hospital enables us to offer aortic valve replacement to some patients whose risk for traditional valve replacement, by means of open heart surgery, is very high.
“This procedure does not require the chest to be opened, and often allows patients the benefits of a new valve with much more rapid post-procedural recovery and a shorter hospital stay. Until now, it’s only been available in the Western Cape and Johannesburg or Pretoria, so being able to offer this surgery to our patients represents a milestone for us.”
Dr Warren Muller, a cardiologist from Life St George’s Hospital in Gqeberha, and experienced TAVI operator Dr Adi Horak from Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Cape Town, are also part of the team.
There is no waiting list, but multiple steps are required to evaluate a patient and then assemble the team for the procedure.
Aortic valve narrowing is usually common in the elderly. This procedure of valve replacement is well suited particularly for patients too old for the usual open valve surgery to be performed safely.
Aortic valve replacement is performed through the femoral artery in the groin from where the new valve, in a collapsed state, can be inserted via a stiff wire into the correct position at the outlet of the heart, and then deployed into its permanent position. The small hole in the groin is stitched up and usually heals quickly.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
TAVR a durable remedy for those not eligible for open heart surgery
SAPIEN valve feasible for high risk patients
Longer life for elderly from TAVR
Brain microbleed common in older TAVR patients