R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, APR 29
In a landmark medical achievement, MGM Healthcare Malar has successfully performed India’s first-ever combined minimally invasive cardiac procedure, delivering two life-saving interventions – Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) and dual chamber leadless pacemaker implantation – in a single sitting, completely avoiding open-heart surgery.
The patient, a 75-year-old woman with a prior history of bypass surgery, arrived with severe breathlessness that had begun to limit her daily life. Compounding her condition were three alarming episodes of unconsciousness within three months—signals of a deeper cardiac crisis.
- India First: Combined TAVI and dual chamber leadless pacemaker implanted in a single patient without open-heart surgery
- Zero Surgical Cuts: Entire procedure performed via a blood vessel in the leg using catheter-based techniques
- High-Risk Success: 75-year-old post-bypass patient treated safely despite complex dual cardiac conditions
- Rapid Recovery: Patient discharged within 48 hours, marking a leap in minimally invasive cardiac care
Advanced diagnostics, including CT Aortogram, confirmed a dual threat: severe aortic stenosis, where the heart’s main valve narrows dangerously, and a 2:1 atrioventricular block, a condition disrupting the heart’s electrical rhythm. Given her age and surgical history, conventional surgery posed significant risks.
Rising to the challenge, the multidisciplinary cardiac team led by Dr. Madan Mohan opted for a pioneering, fully percutaneous approach—treating both structural and electrical heart conditions without a single incision.
The team first performed TAVI, replacing the narrowed aortic valve through a catheter. Immediately after, they implanted a dual chamber leadless pacemaker system—a cutting-edge technology where two miniaturised devices are placed directly inside the heart chambers. Unlike traditional pacemakers, this system eliminates surgical pockets and wires, relying instead on wireless communication to synchronise heart rhythms.
Remarkably, both procedures were completed via a small entry point in the leg, significantly reducing risks of infection, ICU stay, and recovery time. The patient was discharged within just 48 hours—an outcome that underscores the transformative potential of this approach.
“This milestone marks the first in India where both TAVI and dual chamber leadless pacemaker implantation were successfully performed together in a single patient, setting a new benchmark in minimally invasive cardiac treatment,” said Dr. Madan Mohan, Senior Consultant – Interventional Cardiologist, MGM Malar Healthcare.
He further added “This combined approach represents a major advancement in structural and rhythm management therapy.”
Echoing the significance, Venugopal Bhat, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President – Group Strategic Initiatives, MGM Malar Healthcare in a statement added:
“This milestone reflects the future of cardiac care, where complex heart conditions can be treated with precision, safety, and minimal invasiveness.”
With this pioneering success, MGM Malar reinforces its position at the forefront of next-generation cardiac innovation—where no-surgery solutions are redefining survival, recovery, and quality of life for high-risk patients.
Dr. Kalpana Thai, Medical Superintendent, MGM Healthcare Malar Adyar was also present at the press conference.
