KOCHI: Repairing damaged heart valves is a better option that replacing them, said internationally acclaimed cardiac surgeon Manuel de Antunes of Portugal.
He was speaking at a live demonstration of heart valve repair conducted as part of the ‘Amrita Heart Value Conclave - 2015’ here on Saturday, a two-day international conference being held at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre.
According to Antunes, almost 85 per cent of all damaged heart valves could be repaired. “Repairing of heart vales avoids the risk of anticoagulation, or clotting of blood, and ensures a better lifestyle for the patient as the process preserves the patient’s own heart tissues,” he said.
Antunes, who is a pioneer in heart valve repair, has over 3,500 successful heart repair cases to his credit.
Various experts, including Taweesak Chotivatanapong from Thailand; V M Reddy from the US; Justiaan Swanevelder from South Africa and cardiac surgeons from India are also attending the meeting.
India has an estimated 2-2.5 million patients suffering from rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) - a major cause for structural heart value damage.