Hyderabad, October 28, 2020: A very sophisticated yet short duration heart valve implant procedure was successfully performed on a 74-year-old lady Mrs. S.L. from Vikarabad, suffering from severe Aortic valve stenosis, at the Virinchi Hospital. The procedure was performed five days ago by Dr Saratchandra, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Virinchi Hospital, using the novel HYDRA Aortic Valve, for the first time in Hyderabad. The patient has recovered well and has since been discharged. The Aortic Valve has the critical function of letting blood flow from heart to other parts of the body.
The indigenously developed heart valve implant - HYDRA Aortic Valve, has multiple benefits and was recently approved for patient usage. The device is flexible, hence can seamlessly track along tortuous and stiff vessels, especially in the aged. Trans Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), which uses this implant, is usually performed on aged patients whose arteries are rigid and tortuous and flexibility assumes great significance. The implant is retractable, a salient feature, considering the opportunity to appropriately redeploy in instances of less than ideal placement. Above all it is priced half of that of imported devices and will be a great relief for Indian patients, who struggle to meet the high medical costs. The device is gaining tremendous popularity abroad too due to its advanced technology and cost advantage. It has already been given the CE mark and is being used in European countries.
This new device is both medical fraternity and patients friendly, has several advanced features making it the prime option for TA VR. Being Indian made and less expensive are amongst the innumerable advantages it presents, says Dr Saratchandra.
Mrs. S.L. had a prior history of heart attack four months ago. She underwent an emergency angioplasty at Virinchi Hospital and recovered well from it. However, she was also diagnosed as having Aortic valve stenosis with corresponding symptoms and was advised to undergo TAVR 3 months later.
Explaining her condition Dr Saratchandra said "This is a critical heart condition in which one of the main valves of the heart that helps maintain the unidirectional flow of the blood to the body, becomes stiff and hampers functioning in full capacity. If left untreated this condition can result in recurrent loss of consciousness, heart failure, stroke and sudden death."
With the other long-term health conditions of earlier heart attack and hypertension, an open- heart surgery is associated with high risk for the patient at her advanced age. Considering these variables, the team at Virinchi Hospital quickly decided to adapt the more novel procedure of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
