Apollo completes transfemoral pulmonary valve implantation with Indian made valve

Chennai: Apollo Hospitals becomes the first centre in India to have successfully performed a Transfemoral Pulmonary Valve Implantation [a procedure performed by catheter insertion through a large vein in the groin (Femoral vein), called the transfemoral approach, which does not require a surgical incision in the chest] using an Indian made valve.

A 26-year old woman patient had symptoms of breathlessness. She was diagnosed by the hospital to have Tetralogy of fallot (heart condition where there is a large hole in the heart and obstruction to the lung tube). The patient had undergone a couple of surgeries at a young age for surgical corrections of the condition. In 2009, she had a surgical valve replacement following which she developed infective endocarditis of pulmonary valve. As the medical management failed she underwent open heart surgery again for removal of infection and another valve replacement.

At Apollo Hospitals Chennai it was identified that she had developed progressive obstruction of the surgically implanted valve. Since the patient was concerned about her married life and pregnancy; a new valve replacement was recommended by the doctors to prevent damage to the right sided pumping chamber.

Dr. C.S. Muthukumaran, Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, said “The patient had already undergone several surgeries since childhood, hence, performing another surgery was considered high risk. Transfemoral implantation a non-surgical procedure was the best solution. We have been only using imported valves for replacement surgeries so far. This is the first time we have used an Indian made valve called MYVAL manufactured by Meril Life sciences. We used this valve in pulmonary (lung tube) position to help this young lady.”

The procedure was performed within 90 minutes and the patient was discharged in two days. This valve replacement procedure may help transform her life as she will not require open heart surgery. It was explained that the procedure would transform the life of all those people who had this condition operated as a child and awaiting a valve replacement.