SRM Prime Hospital successfully performs India’s First Right Shoulder-Artery Heart Valve Replacement TAVR/TAVI

Chennai, April 2, 2026: In a significant medical breakthrough, SRM Prime Hospital has successfully performed India’s first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/Implantation (TAVR/TAVI) through the right axillary artery—an alternative access route beneath the shoulder—on a 73-year-old patient suffering from severe calcific aortic stenosis.

(L-R) Dr. Shrilekha Venkatesan, Assistant Director - Medical Services, Dr. Balamurugan S, Consultant – Interventional Cardiology, Patient and Dr. P. Balasubramanian, Senior Consultant, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, SRM Prime Hospital

The patient, a retired professional, had presented with decompensated heart failure marked by severe breathlessness. Detailed evaluation revealed advanced narrowing of the aortic valve due to calcium deposits, severely restricting blood flow from the heart. Conventional access routes for the minimally invasive valve replacement procedure, including the commonly used leg artery approach, were deemed unsuitable due to vascular complications such as blockages and unfavorable anatomy.

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With no standard options available, the medical team opted for a rare and complex route through the right axillary artery. The procedure was successfully carried out using a catheter-based valve delivery system, marking a first-of-its-kind achievement in the country. 

The patient showed remarkable recovery and was discharged on the third day following the procedure. Hospital sources confirmed that the individual has since resumed normal daily activities.

The procedure was led by Dr. Balamurugan S, Consultant in Interventional Cardiology, along with a multidisciplinary team including Dr. A. Thomas George, Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine and Diabetology; Dr. P. Balasubramanian, Senior Consultant in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery; and Dr. A. B. Gopalamurugan, Procedure Proctor, supported by cardiac anesthetists and critical care specialists.

Speaking about the case, Dr. Balamurugan said the patient’s condition required urgent intervention but posed significant challenges due to the absence of viable conventional access routes. “We performed an entirely percutaneous right trans-axillary TAVR, which required meticulous planning and advanced expertise due to the complex arterial pathway,” he said. He added that minimally invasive procedures like TAVR offer reduced surgical trauma and faster recovery, particularly beneficial for elderly patients at high surgical risk.

Dr. A. Thomas George highlighted the importance of comprehensive care in such cases, noting that elderly patients undergoing advanced cardiac procedures often have multiple coexisting conditions requiring careful medical management throughout treatment.

Medical experts note that aortic stenosis is a common condition among the elderly, affecting approximately 2–7 percent of individuals over the age of 65. It is primarily caused by age-related degeneration of the heart valve, though conditions such as chronic kidney disease may also contribute.

Doctors advise regular cardiac screenings for individuals above 60 years and urge the public not to ignore early symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, chest discomfort, or fainting spells, which may indicate serious underlying heart disease. Early detection and timely treatment can significantly reduce the risk of complications, including heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

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