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New technique to widen arteries

DUBAI - A breakthrough technique to open narrowed heart arteries without cutting open the chest was carried out on three elderly UAE nationals at Al Qasimi Hospital in Sharjah on Monday.

Doctors said the procedure was a first for the country. The technique, known as percutaneous aortic valve implantation, opens up tightened arteries in the heart that otherwise restrict the normal flow of blood.

A 26mm valve is introduced into the body through an artery, which then fixates itself in the aorta (the largest artery in the body). The device is powered by the body’s blood flow.

“This is mainly for heart patients who are at a high risk for surgery,” explained Dr Thomas Modina, Cardiac Surgeon from Lyon France, who performed the surgery on the three patients.

The valve is made of Nitinol, a metal-like substance that expands according to the body temperature and opens up the artery like a balloon, hence allowing easy blood flow. “The device has a durability of five years and that is the reason we prefer elderly patients to the young,” said Dr Modina.

“To carry out this surgery, we need excellent support and a strong cardiac department which we got at Al Qasimi Hospital,” said Dr Modina.

Dr Aref Noryani, CEO of Al Qasimi Hospital, said the introduction of the technique was major breakthrough in the surgical options for patients. “This is the first time this kind of surgery has taken place in the country,” he said. However, similar surgeries were carried out in Saudi Arabia while the device has been introduced in most parts of the world except in the US since an approval is pending from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The device costs up to Dh200,000.

Dr Noryani, who is also a consultant and head of the Cardiology Department at the hospital, said the research and development on the device was also expensive. “This is extremely expensive as a device but then the research done to develop the device was also expensive,” he added.

The surgeries were carried out free of cost for the UAE nationals aged from 70-84 under a programme launched by the Ministry of Health. A surgery on an Indian expatriate was also due to be held late Tuesday evening. All patients are reportedly recovering and will be allowed to go home within a week’s time.

Another workshop and more surgeries are planned in another six months’ time. “Local charities have agreed to sponsor three devices for needy expatriates,” added Dr Noryani.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com