TAVI performed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 21 2019: The first ever Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation/Replacement (TAVI or TAVR), a minimally invasive surgical procedure, in the North East was performed at Imphal Heart Institute (IHI), Sagolband Meino Leirak on August 7 .

Speaking to media persons at a press meet at Hotel Classic today, IHI Managing Director Dr Kh Ratankumar said that after a planning period of around one month, the surgery was performed on a 65 year old female patient successfully at IHI on August 7.He explained that people are born with three aortic valves in their hearts.

But sometimes, people are also born with only two valves or the valves get damaged or fail to function properly.

This is where TAVI comes in negating the need for an open heart surgery, he added.

Two TAVI surgeries were performed at the Advanced Cardiac Centre of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh in the first week of this month for the first time ever in the country.

TAVI was performed for the first time in the North East at IHI and this is also the first ever for Eastern India in which TAVI was used to treat a bicuspid aortic valve.

IHI has successfully put Manipur on the TAVI map for all India, he added.

Narrating the story behind the establishment of IHI, Dr Ratankumar said that since around 15 years back, he operated Mother's Care Children Hospital and Research Centre at Sagolband Meino Leirak and during that time, he came across many cases of neo natal heart disease.

IHI was established with the aim of saving these children as well as adults who are affected with such diseases, he said adding that it was established after intensive planning and work of around 5 years during which facilities like Cath Lab and Intensive Cardiac Care Unit were installed after approaching then Interventional Cardiologist at Apollo Hospital Dr Kh Jelen and then cardiac surgeon Dr Athouba Arambam (based in Guwahati) .

The successful TAVI surgery at IHI is also possible due to immense contribution of the two doctors, he added.

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