Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet Performs World's First Catheter-Based Treatment for Failing Aortic & Pulmonary Valve
Chennai, July 10, 2026: In a landmark achievement for global cardiac care, Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet has successfully performed what is believed to be the world's first completely catheter-based treatment for both failing aortic and pulmonary valves following a Ross procedure—without the need for repeat open-heart surgery. This remarkable breakthrough offers renewed hope for patients with complex valve disease who are considered too high-risk for conventional surgery.
The life-saving procedure was performed on a 58-year-old patient who had undergone a Ross procedure nearly 25 years ago. Over time, both the aortic autograft and pulmonary homograft had deteriorated, leading to severe heart failure, breathlessness, pulmonary hypertension, kidney and liver dysfunction, and repeated hospital admissions. Since a second open-heart surgery was considered extremely risky, the expert team at Kauvery Heart Institute explored an innovative minimally invasive solution.
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After extensive evaluation using 3D echocardiography, cardiac CT imaging, and AI-powered virtual valve implantation planning, the multidisciplinary heart team, led by Dr. Rajaram Anantharaman, successfully replaced both valves through a completely catheter-based approach. A Medtronic Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve and an Edwards Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia valve were implanted with exceptional precision inside a hybrid operating room under advanced imaging guidance.
The patient's recovery was smooth and remarkable. Within just two weeks, his symptoms had dramatically improved. The swelling had completely resolved, he returned to NYHA Class I functional status, was sleeping comfortably, and could walk for 20–30 minutes without limitation—demonstrating the life-changing potential of this pioneering procedure.
Dr. Rajaram Anantharaman described the case as the first reported completely percutaneous double transcatheter Ross rescue strategy in published world medical literature, highlighting how meticulous planning, advanced imaging, and collaboration across multiple specialties made the achievement possible. Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder and Executive Director of Kauvery Group of Hospitals, emphasized that this milestone reflects the hospital's commitment to delivering world-class structural heart interventions and expanding access to cutting-edge, evidence-based cardiac care in India.
This historic accomplishment places Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet at the forefront of global innovation in structural heart disease treatment and opens new possibilities for high-risk patients worldwide who previously had few or no viable treatment options.
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