R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, APRIL 26
City-based MGM Healthcare, a multi-specialty quaternary care hospital on Tuesday announced that it had successfully performed a Mitral valve replacement on a 38-year-old patient with a MITRIS valve (Tissue valve) – for the very first time in the country.
The surgery was performed on February 19, 2022 by a multi-disciplinary team lead by Dr AB Gopalamurugan, Senior Consultant – Interventional Cardiology and Electrophysiology, Director – TAVR & Endovascular Therapy, along with Dr Prashant Vaijyanath, Senior Consultant, Cardiovascular Surgeon and Dr Mohan, Senior Consultant, Cardiovascular surgeon.
Announcing the successful replacement of Mitral Valve with MITRIS Valve (Tissue valve), which last for over 20 to 25 years when compared to Metal Valves, which requires lifelong medication for blood thinner, Dr Gopalamurugan said, a 38-year-old government school teacher, Kamal M, from Madurai was suffering from severe breathlessness due to Mitral valve failure. The constant breathlessness caused him unpleasant sensation of uncomfortable breathing that hampered his daily activities.
Kamal reached out to MGM Healthcare after a deep research and multiple consultations in other hospitals who had advised metallic valve replacement. However, Kamal was not willing to go for metallic valve replacement and was looking for option without a metallic valve and lifelong blood thinning medications.
Explaining the procedure Dr AB Gopalamurugan said, “The patient had a Mitral valve failure and was anxious to get relieved from the severe breathlessness. Considering the patient’s age and his decision not to take lifelong blood thinners, we opted for this tissue valve from USA called MITRIS valve which had not been used in India till date. This tissue valve is meant to last much longer than the conventional tissue valves thereby allowing younger patients to undergo this procedure and maintain a normal quality of life without the need for blood thinners. The valve also allows the patient to have a second valve replaced later on in life without open heart surgery from Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) procedure. We are happy that the tissue valve was implanted successfully for the first time in India in the patient who is now leading a normal life.’’
The patient was under medication for over 2 months to get the MITRIS valve imported from USA, Dr Gopalamurugan said.
Replying to a query, Dr Gopalamurugan said, “The MITRIS Valve is used in USA for over one and a half years.”
Sharing his experience on the procedure Kamal M, who had never gone to hospital for treatment, said, “I am grateful to Dr Gopalamurugan and his team at MGM Healthcare for helping me find relief to my problem. The experience has been great. I am truly happy to finally have a permanent solution to this problem.”
