* Complex balloon valvuloplasty instead of valve replacement

* Doctors at KIMS-Saveera Hospital perform the procedure under the Aarogyasri scheme completely free of cost

Anantapur, 27th October 2022: Doctors at KIMS Saveera Hospital in Anantapur have cured five ordinary labourers who had to transplant their heart valves by performing a complex balloon valvuloplasty without the need for such a major surgery. These details are given by the hospital’s senior consultant cardiologist Dr Moode Sandeep. The middle-aged labourers, aged between 25 and 40 years, had come to the hospital at different times with severe fatigue, swelling in their legs and chest pain. A 2D echo test revealed that all of them had severely damaged heart valves and the valves became thinner. This resulted in poor blood supply to the heart and they developed fatigue and other problems. Generally, in such a situation, the solution suggested by most doctors is to replace the valves and put in place artificial valves. But they are treated in a complex procedure called balloon valvuloplasty. Thus, the problem is cured without surgery.

Why this disease?

Infections like colds and coughs are not treated properly and the infection increases and the valves are damaged. In cities, when someone gets infections, they go to the doctors and use prescribed antibiotics. And, the infection is cured. But in the villages, people usually don’t consult doctors for such issues, and the infection increases. The heart valves become very thin with rheumatic problems caused by various bacterial infections. This can lead to severe fatigue, pneumonia in the lungs, and swelling of the legs. Then the patient may need to go on the ventilator. Such people will have to undergo valve replacement surgery. In the surgery, the thinned valves are operated upon and replaced. Instead, we sent a balloon from the legs through a small wire without any major cuts and restored the thinned valves to normal. Therefore, the blood supply increased. Balloon surgery is usually performed in large medical colleges and institutions only. It is a very complex process. That’s why most doctors suggest a bypass surgery or valve replacement instead. But for the first time, we brought all the necessary equipment to KIMS Saveera Hospital in Anantapur and performed this surgery on five people. Moreover, the entire process was done through Aarogyasri which made it possible to do it completely free of cost to the patients,” explained Dr Sandeep. Dr Rajesh Natua and Dr Spandana also participated in the valve replacement procedure, he said.

Dr Rajesh Natua said percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty is better than open heart surgery in selected patients. Valvuloplasty improves blood flow through the heart, reducing symptoms.  After PBMV, 90% of patients remain asymptomatic for 10 years. “We are delighted to share with the public the amazing results obtained after valvotomy for five patients and the KIMS Saveera cardiology team has always been at the forefront of performing complex heart surgeries free of charge,” said the doctors from the KIMS saveera cardiology team, Dr Bala Kishore, Dr Rajesh Natua, Dr Sandeep, and Dr Spandana.