NIMS Performs Rare Heart Procedure on 56-yr-Old Patient

Hyderabad: The cardiology department of Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (Nims) has achieved a remarkable feat by successfully performing a rare and complex medical procedure called the transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) on a 56-year-old patient.

According to a statement, the patient suffered from severe mitral stenosis (blockage of the mitral valve in the heart) due to mitral annular calcification (MAC). The patient was considered at high-risk for conventional surgical mitral valve replacement, considering that he also suffered from hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Faced with this challenge, the Nims cardiology team resorted to the alternative, cutting-edge treatment option. TMVR is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces the diseased mitral valve without the need for open-heart surgery. Instead, the new valve is implanted via a blood vessel in the leg, ensuring a faster and safer recovery.

Performing TMVR in a patient with mitral annular calcification, where excess calcium deposits significantly complicate the process, is exceedingly rare and has only been successfully attempted a handful of times globally, the statement said.

Under the leadership of Dr B. Srinivas, professor and head of the department of cardiology, and his team comprising Dr Manikrishna, Dr Abhinay Reddy and Dr K. Anurag, the patient underwent a successful TMVR procedure. The team also employed the Lampoon procedure an advanced technique designed to prevent obstruction to blood flow post-implantation by cutting a portion of the native valve.

The patient’s recovery underscored the success of this procedure, the statement said. Within two days, he was walking and resuming normal activities. By day four, he was discharged from the hospital.