Mangaluru: In a groundbreaking medical feat, Indiana Hospital & Heart Institute has successfully performed Mangaluru’s first-ever dual valve-in-valve TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) procedures — a highly advanced, minimally invasive cardiac intervention — marking a major milestone in the region’s heart care services.
At a press briefing, Dr. Yusuf Kumble, chief interventional cardiologist and managing director, shared details of the two complex cases completed on the same day.
A Lifesaving Option for High-Risk Patients
Valve-in-valve TAVR is offered to patients with failing surgical heart valves who are unfit for repeat open-heart surgeries. Instead of reopening the chest, doctors place a new valve inside the old one using a catheter — drastically reducing risk and recovery time.
Case 1: A 72-Year-Old With Dual Cardiac Issues
The first patient, a 72-year-old man weighing 110 kg with diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure, had undergone aortic valve surgery two decades ago. Deemed too risky for re-surgery by multiple hospitals, he approached Indiana Hospital. A cardiac angiogram revealed severe coronary blockages. A combined angioplasty and valve-in-valve TAVR was successfully carried out by Dr. Kumble and his multidisciplinary team.
Case 2: An 80-Year-Old Woman With Recurrent Heart Failure
The second patient, an 80-year-old woman also with a history of valve replacement, was admitted with worsening heart failure. She underwent the same procedure just one hour after the first, with equally positive outcomes.
Advancing Structural Heart Care
With these successful back-to-back procedures, Indiana Hospital solidifies its role as a regional center of excellence in advanced heart care. The hospital’s Structural Heart Programme, now entering its sixth year, continues to lead innovation for high-risk cardiac patients across Karnataka, North Kerala, and the Malnad region.