Transcatheter valve replacement gains traction

Transcatheter replacement of valves in the heart are gaining popularity, doctors said at an awareness meeting on Friday.

Patients undergoing the transcatheter valve replacement can go back home two or three days after the procedure, while an open heart surgery requires hospital stay for at least 10 days.

A hole smaller than a laparoscopic surgery hole is made in the groin to insert the catheter, said a cardiologist.

“There are multiple advantages of transcatheter valve replacement over conventional open heart surgery to replace a valve. Full anaesthesia is required in an open heart surgery, whereas anaesthesia of much milder dose is required in transcatheter replacement,” said Rabin Chakraborty, an interventional cardiologist and senior vice-chairman at Medica Superspecialty Hospital.

Chakraborty said over 20 transcatheter valve replacements have been done at Medica in the last three-and-a-half years.

“The patient stays in hospital for a couple of days and then goes back to normal routine, which is unimaginable in open heart valve replacement surgery,” said Chakraborty.

The valves, which opens and closes to make sure blood flows in right direction, degenerates with age because of wear and tear, said doctors.

In India, only people aged 60 or more can undergo transcatheter replacement.

Anup Banerjee, a senior interventional cardiologist, said the risks of complications arising out of an open heart surgery was much more in elderly population, who may have comorbidities. A transcatheter replacement will suit them better, said Banerjee.

The valve that is inserted in transcatheter replacement is made of tissue and its positioning is better compared with a metallic valve, said Chakraborty. “We are having patients in our hospitals who are themselves asking for transcatheter valve replacement,” he said. Telegraph India