Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad has achieved a significant milestone in cardiac care by successfully treating two elderly patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis, a dangerous narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve. Both patients were classified as extremely high-risk for traditional open-heart surgery due to their age and multiple underlying health conditions. The life-saving interventions were carried out using Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a modern, minimally invasive alternative to surgical valve replacement.
The procedures were conducted by a specialized multidisciplinary cardiac team under the leadership of Dr Sanjay Kumar, Senior Director – Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad. TAVI enabled the medical team to replace the damaged aortic valve without opening the chest, significantly reducing surgical stress and recovery time for the elderly patients.
The patients included an 86-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman, both of whom were admitted with worsening symptoms such as breathlessness, dizziness, and difficulty performing physical activities. Their medical history included serious co-morbidities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease with previous stent placement, making conventional surgery highly risky.
Detailed cardiac evaluation, including 2D echocardiography, confirmed that both patients were suffering from severe aortic stenosis. Risk assessment scores indicated a predicted surgical mortality of 15.8 per cent for the male patient and 12.1 per cent for the female patient, placing them in the very high-risk category. Without timely intervention, survival in such cases typically drops to just two to three years.
Considering these factors, the medical team opted for the TAVI approach. Both procedures were performed under conscious sedation to minimize anesthesia-related complications. The valve implantation for the male patient was completed in approximately two and a half hours, while the female patient’s procedure lasted around three hours. Despite the complexity involved, both interventions were completed successfully, and the patients showed rapid clinical improvement. They were subsequently discharged in stable condition.
Explaining the significance of the cases, Dr Sanjay Kumar said, “Severe aortic stenosis in elderly patients with multiple co-morbidities presents an enormous challenge. Severe aortic stenosis affects nearly 8-9 per cent of the elderly population and, if untreated, can rapidly become life-threatening. TAVI has emerged as a life-saving option for patients who are otherwise deemed inoperable. These cases demonstrate how advanced technology, careful patient selection and a multidisciplinary approach can dramatically improve outcomes, even in very high-risk individuals.”
Commenting on the hospital’s capabilities, Dr Abhishek Sharma, Facility Director, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad said, “The complex cases highlight the advanced cardiac care infrastructure we have built at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad. These successful interventions reinforce Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad’s commitment to offering cutting-edge, minimally invasive cardiac care, especially to elderly and high-risk patients who were previously considered unsuitable for surgery. We are proud of our clinicians for ensuring a safe outcome in a situation where conventional surgery was not an option. Our focus remains on providing timely, world-class care to every patient who walks through our doors.”
(Photo courtesy: facebook/fortishealth)