BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals, a part of Parkway Pantai, successfully performed sutureless aortic valve replacement. Sutureless aortic valve replacement is designed to be highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of surgical approaches, including traditional and minimally invasive.
With this method, one does not need any stitches to attach the foreign valve to the heart. It ensures better function than a sutured valve as it allows a larger orifice for blood to pass through. Being sutureless, a standard operation is also much quicker and thereby improves surgical outcomes and facilitates a minimally invasive approach suitable for higher risk patients. This procedure has been used in Europe and other parts of the world for over a decade with excellent results. There have been more than 22000 implants worldwide.
Saritha (name changed), 82, had undergone an aortic valve replacement eight years ago in another hospital. This valve failed and was creating an obstruction of blood from the pumping chamber (left ventricle) to the organs in the body. This resulted in breathlessness which was restricting her activity and tiring her heart. If left untreated, the patient could suffer from serious heart failure or even death in 2-4 years.
An Echo scan of the heart revealed that the old valve was malfunctioning. It presented an obstruction such that the pumping chamber had to generate pressures of 120mmHg to get blood through the valve.
A highly skilled team of doctors led by Dr. Thasee Pillay took on this challenging case. The team comprised of Dr Sanjay, Sr Consultant and Head of Cardiac Anesthesia and Critical Care, Dr. Maruti, Consultant, Cardio Thoracic & Vascular Surgeon, Dr Bhaskar, Consultant, Cardio Thoracic & Vascular Surgeon, Dr Umesh, Consultant, Cardio Thoracic & Vascular Surgeon, Dr Shivaprakash, Consultant, Cardiac Anesthesia and Dr Shrinivas, Consultant, Cardiac Anesthesia.
Dr Thasee Pillay, Consultant Cardiac and Cardiopulmonary Transplant Surgeon, Chief of Surgery at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals, said, “The patient was brought in a critical condition as she had previously endured a double valve surgery. As a result, the heart was welded to its surrounding tissue and had to be freed meticulously without damaging the heart. The age factor was an added risk. Sutureless aortic valve replacement employs a bioprosthetic valve that is also minimally invasive to the patient. This surgical therapy is also quicker with a shortened recovery period.”
The surgery was conducted in early April lasting roughly four hours .The patient was extubated immediately after surgery and did not require ventilator support. She was under observation for two days. She is comfortable and doing well at present.
Thomas Mathew, COO, Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Bengaluru adds “Gleneagles Global Hospitals has a thriving cardio program run by a highly skilled team of cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Our recent appointments were leaders in the busiest heart and lung transplant program in the UK. They have a wealth of experience and expertise in transplant, mechanical hearts and ECMO. Our team is capable of handling the full spectrum of adult and paediatric heart related ailments and surgery. This surgery is the first case of its kind in South India and we are thrilled that our team of specialists was able to successfully plan and treat this complex case through detailed preparation”
