Navi Mumbai: With heart valve disease on the rise in India, cardiac experts at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai (AHNM) have highlighted the latest advancements in structural heart disease treatment. Marking Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day on February 22, the hospital hosted an event to raise awareness about early detection, lifestyle modifications, and innovative treatment options that can save lives.
Structural heart disease, which affects the heart’s valves and chambers, is becoming increasingly common due to congenital conditions, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), ageing, calcium deposition, and genetic factors.
Symptoms often go unnoticed in the early stages, making regular health check-ups essential for timely diagnosis. Experts at Apollo emphasized that minimally invasive cardiac procedures can now offer safer, faster, and more effective treatments for such conditions.
Dr. Rahul Gupta, Senior Consultant in Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart Disease at AHNM, shared the success story of a 73-year-old woman with severe tricuspid valve disease, who was a high-risk case for open-heart surgery. The hospital successfully performed a TRIC Valve procedure, allowing her to be discharged within two days with significant improvement. This marked the first case of TRIC Valve treatment in Navi Mumbai.
Another groundbreaking case was presented by Dr. Sanjeevkumar Kalkekar, Senior Consultant in Interventional Cardiology at AHNM, who performed Navi Mumbai’s first-ever MitraClip procedure on a 52-year-old woman suffering from severe Mitral Regurgitation (MR) and Left Ventricular Dysfunction (LVEF = 40%). As she was unfit for conventional surgery, the minimally invasive MitraClip procedure significantly improved her condition, and she was discharged within 24 hours.
The hospital also achieved a major milestone in pacemaker technology. Dr. Brajesh Kunwar, Senior Consultant in Interventional Cardiology at AHNM, successfully implanted a leadless pacemaker in an 80-year-old patient with multiple complications, including a history of bypass surgery and blood thinners. Unlike conventional pacemakers, the leadless pacemaker has a lifespan of 25 years, reducing infection risks and long-term complications. The patient underwent a one-hour, non-sedated procedure and was discharged within 24 hours.
Addressing complex cases in elderly patients, Dr. Mahesh Ghogare, TAVI Specialist at AHNM, shared the story of a 91-year-old man diagnosed with severe Aortic Stenosis. Initially consulted for a dental procedure, he reported dizziness, leading to a diagnosis of a life-threatening valve condition. Given the high surgical risk, he successfully underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery. Today, he is living independently with improved heart function.
Highlighting the importance of early detection in children, Dr. Bhushan Chavan, Senior Consultant in Pediatric Interventional Cardiology at AHNM, presented a rare case diagnosed during a routine school health check-up. A 12-year-old boy was found to have an aorta-to-right atrium tunnel, a congenital defect that could lead to severe heart valve damage over time. Using a catheter-based intervention, the condition was treated successfully, preventing long-term complications.
Arunesh Punetha, Regional CEO-Western Region, Apollo Hospitals said, “With state-of-the-art Cath Labs, robotic systems, and critical care units, the hospital provides advanced and minimally invasive treatments for structural heart diseases, ensuring better patient outcomes.”
