Hospital da Luz Coimbra applied, on December 7, for the first time in the center region of the country, treatment to a patient with aortic stenosis , by TAVI technique (transcatheter aortic valve implantation). This is a minimally invasive technique , introduced in Portugal 10 years ago, which constitutes the only hope for cardiac patients of high risk or not eligible for surgery. “It is with great pride that we bring the TAVI technique to the center region, a technique that has direct impact in the life of these patients, for it improves quality of life almost immediately, putting an end to the symptoms of fatigue or shortness of air, typical of this pathology”, explains Marco Costa , the interventional cardiologist who led the team that applied the pioneer procedure at Hospital da Luz Coimbra . Made by femoral approach (through the groin), this technique reduces considerably the invasive level of the treatment for patients, mostly elderly and, as such, at higher risk in an open heart surgery. Keep in mind: Aortic stenosis affects around 32 thousand Portuguese. It is estimated that about 25 thousand people over 75 years old present severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, with strong implications in their quality of life. About 4500 of those 25 thousand people have indication for treatment with TAVI , since they are inoperable or involve high surgical risk, according to the national and international recommendations presently applicable in valvular heart disease. The main symptoms of aortic stenosis include fatigue, chest pain and faintness. The treatment can be the implantation of a new cardiac valve, by conventional surgery, or this minimally invasive procedure, by catheter, which is now available in the region of Coimbra. The patient now successfully operated by Marco Costa presented severe aortic valvular stenosis and had increased risk for conventional surgery. The intervention proceeded without complications and the patient was discharged from hospital already stabilized and clinically better, merely four days after. In this first year of activity of the Unit of Cardiovascular Intervention under the coordination of Marco Costa, Hospital da Luz Coimbra has already performed dozens of complex coronary interventions , such as closure of interatrial communication using intracardiac ultrasound, mitral clip insertion using tridimensional ultrasound, and now percutaneous implantation of aortic valves. Pedro Beja Afonso , Hospital da Luz Coimbra administrator, highlights that “ it is a point of pride for the hospital to be pioneer in this technique and able to offer patients in this region the most significant techniques and procedures in cardiovascular field ”. In the photo above , the team that collaborated in the first TAVI at Hospital da Luz Coimbra, with Marco Costa.
