Rama Dhamami, 76, has been a heart patient for the past 15years and had also been suffering severe osteoarthritis of both knees. Difficulty in breathing and chest pain had become the daily norm for her as she had suffered heart failure a multiple times. The critical block in Dhamami’s heart had not only severely complicated her case, but also made her the world’s first person to receive an open heart “surgery”, which normally takes 4-5 hours, in less than 45 minutes without any surgery. A “hybrid procedure” was performed on Dhamami which included angioplasty with stenting of the major artery along with Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) by using a unique innovative pre-crimped, pre-loaded, pre-packaged ready-to-use self expandable Aortic Valve. The new innovative valve system has never been used simultaneously after an angioplasty before.
After undergoing the non-invasive procedure at the Metro Hospitals and Heart Institute, Noida, Dhamami said, “It was a difficult and scary time for me as my health was deteriorating with each passing day and there was no option but to live with it. I was not fit to have an open heart surgery due to my age and other health problems. But my hopes were rekindled when I learned about the possibility of having the procedure without surgery and minimal complications involved. I had my health back after having the treatment successfully.”
With Dhamami’s successful “hybrid surgery”, Metro Hospitals has created a world record by performing a revolutionary non-surgical procedure for heart, Trans Cathether Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), in less than 45 minutes along with Angioplasty with Stenting of the main artery in the same sitting.
Dr Purshotam Lal, the leading surgeon who did the procedure, explained Dhamami’s case and said, “Dhamami was not fit for an open heart surgery. Her Echocardiography showed severe and Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis and her Coronary Angiography had revealed critical block of its main artery. Neither Dhamami nor her family wanted to perform an open heart surgery at all. So we decided to perform a hybrid procedure which we did under local anaesthesia from the groin area like any other angiography procedure. Initially, Angioplasty with Stenting of the main artery was performed followed by 26 mm size pre-crimped self expandable valve. Post-procedural Angiography and ECHO study showed no leak or tightness in the valve and she was sent home after three days. Now, Dhamami is undergoing three weeks’ follow-up and is doing well. We are also planning for her bilateral knee replacement in the near future which otherwise would not have been possible.”
Aortic stenosis is narrowing of the aortic valve of the heart which restricts blood flow to the whole body.
Dr. Lal said, “Since we are seeing more and more elderly patients with this condition, I hope that an increase in competition in the market for the use of the new innovative pre-crimped, pre-loaded, pre-packaged ready to use self expandable Aortic Valve might bring the cost of this procedure down.”