Al Qassimi Hospital, the largest government operated hospital in Sharjah, has performed the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI/ TAVR) using a core valve, in the Asian region. 

 

Dr Arif Al Nooryani, a UAE national interventional cardiologist, successfully concluded the operation, along with two flown-in and internationally renowned heart specialists, said a statement.

 

Preparations for the procedure were held locally and performed by a team of 10 professionals, headed by three specialised interventionalists, anesthetists and nurses from the cardiac team. Doctors included Dr Al Nooryani, chief executive Officer, consultant interventional cardiologist and head of Cath Lab Unit at the Al Qassimi Hospital; Dr Thomas Modeen, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery consultant from Lille University Hospital. 

 

TAVI is known as a rare operation method, which is risky and costly. This type of procedure is preferred for patients who surgeons consider not to be suitable for conventional surgery. Patients are commonly affected by severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve opening), who are not eligible for traditional open chest surgery or inoperable candidates. TAVI is performed on a beating heart and does not require cardiopulmonary bypass. 

 

The patient of Al Qassimi Hospital is specified as a UAE national, male, 88 years old with symptomatic history and diagnosed heart failure. The cost of a TAVI surgery in the UAE is around Dh220,000 and in the case of the UAE national, paid by the government. - TradeArabia News Service