Apollo Hospitals Successfully Implants the First World’s Largest Artificial Pulmonary Valve without surgery on a 61 year old lady

Chennai: Apollo Hospitals, Asia’s largest and most trusted multi-specialty chain of hospitals, successfully completed implanting the first World’s Largest Pulmonary Valve (32mm) without surgery in Chennai on a 61 year old patient early on 15th September 2020.  

From Left to Right: Dr. Muthafa Janeel, Peditric Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. CS. Muthukumaran Structural Interventional Cardiologist, Patient, Dr. Sengottuvelu Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Neville Solomon Senior Consultant, Cardiac Surgeon

Mrs. Shakthi (name changed), 61 had undergone a total surgical correction in 1981 for a very rare condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This is a condition caused by a combination of four heart defects that are present at birth (congenital). These defects, which affect the structure of the heart, cause oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and to the rest of the body. She was doing fine, until the Pulmonary valve (the valve to the lung) developed leak gradually. 

Mrs. Shakthi (name changed),, was admitted to Apollo Hospitals Greams road, Chennai on May 2019 with a history of breathlessness and tiredness.  After thorough diagnosis, the reports revealed that she was suffering from severe valve leak and the leakage had progressed to her right side pumping chamber of the heart which later began to dilate.

Pulmonary artery, the blood vessel that carries blood to the lungs had enlarged significantly. If left untreated, this could lead to progressive deterioration of the heart function. The team of doctors’ at Apollo Hospitals headed by Dr. CS Muthukumaran, Consultant Structural Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals decided to perform a very high risk surgery, percutaneous valve implantation in June 2019. The largest available balloon expandable artificial valve at that time was 29mm which was not a suitable valve for immediate implantation.

Importing a suitable valve [self-expanding] from markets like China was considered as an option, due to COVID Pandemic which struck early this year it became difficult. This situation led the doctor’s team with no chance other than to wait to carry out the procedure. Due to the long wait the patient’s condition deteriorated and she suffered severe breathlessness.

In the meanwhile, World’s first 32mm valve introduced by Meril Life Sciences, India was considered as a best suitable option for the patient’s condition. The 32 mm artificial valve was utilized for the procedure.

Addressing the Media, Dr. CS Muthukumaran said, “Tetralogy of Fallot is a heart defect by birth and requires an open heart surgery at 6 months of age. But these patients have a faulty pulmonary valve [lung tube] and will require atleast two further surgery to replace the valve in their life. Redo open heart surgery is high risk and these patients present to us late due to fear of surgery. This latest technology will help all these individuals to get their valve replaced without surgery in a single day admission. This 32mm new valve has widened our scope to design better treatments for the patient with such heart defects and other anomalies.”

A team of doctors comprising Dr. Sengottuvelu, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Neville Solomon, Senior Consultant, Cardiac Surgeon, Dr Vasantharoopan, Anesthetists, Dr Vinodh cardiologist,  Intensivists and Radiologists joined together and planned the procedure. The doctors’ team implanted the valve through the right femoral vein, [Tube that takes blood to heart from the groin] of the patient, the whole procedure was successfully completed in 2 hours. The patient quickly recovered after the procedure and was discharged the very next day.

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