Aster Medcity introduces Kerala’s first open heart suture less aortic perceval valve technology

KOCHI: For the first time in Kerala, Aster Medcity has successfully completed an open-heart Suture less Aortic Perceval valve technology. A 55-years-old lady Sudha, native of Palakkad, underwent this innovative valve replacement surgery under the expert team of doctors led by Dr Manoj P Nair, Senior Consultant Cardiac Surgery, Dr Suresh G Nair, Head, Anesthesia and Critical Care, and Dr George Varghese Kurian, Consultant, Cardiac Surgery.

Sudha got admitted to Aster Medcity following symptoms of shortness of breath and abnormalities in heartbeat. Further examination concluded that she was suffering from calcific aortic valve which is due to the accumulation of calcium in the Aortic valve of the heart and results in obstruction of blood flow. Sudha was also suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, parathyroid hormone and hypercalcemia.

The only treatment for calcific aortic valve is to replace it and usually, open heart surgery would be conducted to replace the aortic valve through Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). But considering the serious condition and other comorbidities of the patient, the doctors were not confident to conduct TAVI and later decided to go ahead with the advanced technology, Open Heart Suture Less Aortic Percival Valve, which was successful and the patient left the hospital within a short span after the surgery.

The advantages of the new treatment are lower treatment cost and better benefits compared to TAVI, said Dr Manoj P Nair. This technique is less complicated and also fits a slightly larger valve, ensuring more accurate treatment by reducing the risk of stroke too, Dr Manoj explained.

The lifespan of the TAVI valve is seven years while the lifespan of the Perceval valve is up to 15 years. This procedure can be performed on as many patients as possible using the minimally invasive method. The relatively short bypass time will reduce the complications of the surgery, said Dr George Varghese Kurian, Consultant, Cardiac Surgery, Aster Medcity.

Aster Medcity is proud to introduce such advanced technology for various treatments, said Farhan Yasin, Regional Director, Aster Hospitals – Kerala cluster and Oman. Aster once again proves its goal of making world-class state-of-the-art medical facilities available in our state, he added.