Apollo Hospitals showcase their success using innovations in structural heart disease treatment
Aimed at spreading awareness about Heart Valve Disease which is on the rise among the Indian population emphasizing the role of regular health checks and lifestyle modification
Navi Mumbai, 21 February 2025 (GNI) : Marking the occurrence of Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day which falls on February 22nd each year, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai(AHNM) organized a unique event presided over by its structural heart specialist doctors to highlight to the public the increasing cases of heart valve conditions & the various treatment options available.
Structural Heart Disease is a disease affecting the heart valves and its chambers and the incidence is increasing each year. Causes can be congenital, that is from the birth, or acquired. Atrial septal defects(ASD) and ventricular septal defects (VSD) are examples of congenital heart disease(CHD) & are treated by paediatric interventional cardiologists. In acquired condition, common causes are rheumatic heart disease (RHD), ageing, calcium deposition, or genetic factors.
Symptoms of structural heart disease can be varied & mostly presents with shortness of breath, chest pain, giddiness, palpitation, swelling of ankles, feet or abdomen. Many people miss the early warning signs that’s why awareness is so important—early detection can prevent major complications.
For Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, AHNM reinforced its commitment to saving lives with the exceptional cardiac experts who are trained in using advanced Structural Heart devices like cardiac valve & rhythm management devices, pacemakers, and ventricular assist devices. The cardiac experts stressed the importance of regular heath checks in diagnosing heart disease early.
Dr Rahul Gupta – Sr Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease & Rhythm Disorder Specialist, Valve Expert – TAVI, TMVR AHNM, said “With advanced minimally invasive treatments we are able to give patients another chance at a healthy life. A 73-year-old frail lady presented with several complications that made her a high-risk case for even open heart procedure. She had a history of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) with Mitral Valve replacement done in 2017. ECG revealed severe Tricuspid Valve disease. Conventional procedures were not viable options, we performed a TRIC Valve procedure yielding excellent results. The patient was discharged on the 2nd day, showing significant improvement in her functional capacity. This is the 1st case reported in Navi Mumbai. Proper planning and patient selection are key to the success of such procedures“
Dr Sanjeevkumar Kalkekar – Sr Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease & Rhythm Disorder Specialist, National Trainer for Leadless Pacemaker, Valve Expert – TAVI, TMVR, & MitraClip AHNM, shared his experience about a minimally invasive procedure on a 52-year-old patient Mrs Vijeta, who was experiencing progressive breathlessness & was diagnosed with severe Mitral Regurgitation (MR) and Left Ventricular Dysfunction (LVEF = 40%) – “Despite undergoing 6 months of guideline-directed medical therapy, her symptoms persisted and her condition made her unsuitable for traditional Mitral Valve Replacement due to high surgical risk.She underwent a successful MitraClip procedure without the need for open-heart surgery. The procedure significantly improved her condition. She was discharged within 24 hours, and follow-up evaluations confirmed a complete resolution of her severe MR and great relief to her symptoms”. This was the 1st case of the MitraClip in entire Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad district.
Dr Brajesh Kunwar – Sr Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease Specialist AHNM added “The lifestyles of patients nowadays make them susceptible to heart conditions; at the same time, they need solutions that can put them back into their routine as soon as possible with minimal complications. An 80-year-old male patient, who was on blood thinners and had previously undergone bypass surgery, faced multiple contraindications for a conventional pacemaker. To address his condition safely, we successfully implanted the most innovative Leadless Pacemaker—an advanced, minimally invasive device that helps in reducing infection risks and long-term complications compared to conventional pacemakers. In a 1 hour, non-sedated procedure, our patient, despite multiple contraindications, was successfully implanted and discharged after 24 hrs. This new pacemaker has a life of 25 yrs which is double than that of conventional pacemakers”
Dr Mahesh Ghogare – Sr Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease, TAVI specialist AHNM, shared, “A 91-year-old male patient was initially consulted for a dental procedure when he reported two episodes of giddiness. Upon evaluation, he was diagnosed with severe Aortic Stenosis. Given the high surgical risk, he successfully underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive alternative to traditional valve replacement surgery. He is able to do all his routine activities comfortably today & the procedure has given him a new life”
Dr. Bhushan Chavan, Senior Consultant Pediatric Interventional Cardiology AHNM said “In a routine school health check camp, we diagnosed a 12-year-old boy with a rare congenital heart defect—an aorta-to-right atrium tunnel, which can lead to excessive blood flow and strain on the heart valves over time. Using a catheter-based intervention, we successfully closed the tunnel with a permanently placed device, preventing long-term valve damage and heart failure risks. This case highlights the critical role of early detection and minimally invasive techniques in ensuring excellent quality of life for our patients. We have successfully treated many cases of congenital heart disease using the minimally invasive approach not only in India but also internationally”
Mr Arunesh Punetha, Regional CEO-Western Region, Apollo Hospitals said, ‘Our cardiac sciences department at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai has clinicians who are trained in the newest interventional procedures & are capable of providing world-class care with successful outcomes. It brings us immense joy to see patients recovering dramatically & getting a new lease of life. Each patient story is a testament to the quality of care provided by the cardiac team, emergency & ICU clinicians as well as our trained nursing staff. With advanced facilities like state- of- the -art Cath Labs, Robotic systems & Critical care units, AHNM offers the best-in-class care for structural heart diseases in Western India. We will continue to create awareness for importance of preventive health checks that will help diagnose these conditions early leading to better outcomes” ends GNI
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