India leads in procedure to replace aortic valve

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 3

India has taken a global lead in conducting the first non-surgical procedure for replacement of aortic valve, which, if constricted, can cause heart failure.

Former member of the Medical Council of India Board of Governors and Delhi-based cardiologist Purushottam Lal this week conducted the procedure on a 60-plus woman not in a position to undergo open heart surgery due to her co-morbid condition coupled with dysfunctional knees.

A barely 15-minute procedure involved implanting of a path-breaking new medical device called core valve which is pre-sterilised, pre-packaged and ready for use in cases where patients requiring aortic valve replacement are not in a position to undergo surgery because of being high-risk patients.

“The new procedure is the world’s first non-surgical procedure in which we take a hi-tech core valve, pre-crimped and pre-loaded on to a catheter, and replace the aortic valve through an implant,” Dr Lal, Head, Metro Group of Hospitals, said here today. The pre-sterilised and pre packaged core valve is currently manufactured abroad.