CHENNAI: In a first, city doctors performed a rare surgery using Sapien 3 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) on a 74-year old man suffering from severe Aortic Stenosis, narrowing of aortic valve opening causing restriction on blood flow from left ventricle to the aorta. It is one of the most common and serious life-threatening valve diseases among the elderly.
The patient identified as Sayeed Rasol from Tiruchy, could barely walk a few steps without stopping to catch his breath. The doctors said this is one of the three symptoms of Aortic Stenosis, the other two being discomfort in the chest and giddiness. But Rasol did not suspect anything seriously wrong, till he had to be suddenly hospitalized and was advised to undergo an open heart surgery. "I was not interested in open heart surgery. I was hoping for a simpler procedure," Rasol said.
When his condition worsened, he was brought to Apollo Hospital here."Open heart surgery is quite risky for a senior citizen, so we decided to go in for TAVR. Sapien 3 is one of the most advanced TAVR valves in the world and there are only five centres in India which have the approval to use it," said Dr G Sengottuvelu, who headed the surgical team.
Aortic Stenosis is caused by wear and tear of the heart valve that happens over years. "The cusps in the aorta undergo wear and tear causing restrictions in the valve. This creates problems in blood flow leading to breathlessnes. This procedure involves replacing the damaged valve with Sapien 3 TAVR, a prosthetic valve allowing easy blood flow," he explained.
Senguttuvalu said this was the first such surgery in South India and to ensure that it went well, the doctors even underwent special training in Los Angeles, US. Within a few hours of the surgery, Rasol said he was fine. Discharged the very next day, he began walking with no issues of breathlessness. The valve costs Rs 18 lakh, but the doctors believe that with more people opting for it, the cost could go down.