Kauvery Hospital Performs World’s First Breakthrough Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement on Octogenarian

Kauvery Hospital Performs World’s First Breakthrough Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement on Octogenarian

DD TIMES GUWAHATI, 30th OCTOBER, 2025: In a historic achievement, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, has successfully performed the world’s first transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) with an extended external wrap and atrialized implant through femoral vein (groin) access on an 83-year-old patient who had been considered “inoperable” by multiple cardiac surgeons.

The patient had multiple comorbidities and had recurrent hospital admissions due to heart failure caused by severe Mitral Valve dysfunction caused by severe Mitral Annular Calcification (MAC).

As she had undergone radiotherapy to the chest twice in the past – first for cancer of the esophagus, and later following breast cancer surgery, any form of open-heart surgery or even minimally invasive surgical approaches was deemed too dangerous.

Severe Mitral Annular Calcification (MAC) – is a condition where heavy calcium deposits build up around the mitral valve of the heart and making the valve unable to function properly.

Patients develop severe breathlessness, fatigue, and heart failure.

Surgery is usually very risky because stitching a new valve into this calcified ring can cause cracks, bleeding, or failure of the new valve.

“To overcome these challenges, we developed a first-of-its-kind trans-catheter technique.

A replacement valve was modified with an external wrap to ensure secure fixation and prevent leaks. It was then implanted in a slightly higher-than-usual position (atrialized implant) for proper anchoring, preventing leak around valve and preventing obstruction to left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT).

Previously reported procedures were completed through open heart surgery, with direct implantation through left atrium.

Most importantly in this case, the entire procedure was completed through the right femoral vein in the groin, avoiding the need to open the chest.

Patient recovered well from the procedure and was discharged home after a week.

This is the world’s first case of its kind and it gives new hope to similar high-risk patients globally,” said Dr Rajaram Anantharaman, Director for Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapies, at Kauvery hospital Alwarpet, Chennai.

He also thanked the ‘Heart Team’ members of Kauvery Hospitals.