MULTAN: Doctors from the US conducted transcatheter aortic valve implantation on three patients at the Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology on Thursday.

Hospital executive director Dr Rana Altaf told reporters the replacement of aortic valve of the heart of the patients was done through blood vessels instead of open heart surgery.

He said that the minimally invasive surgical procedure repaired the valve without removing the old damaged valve.

He said that the American doctors will conduct six implantation cases, of which implantation of valves of three patients had already been done while the valve repairing of remaining three patients would be done on Friday and Saturday.

He said that Dr Bruce Jones, Dr Yasir Akhtar and Dr Scott Frazier from Knoxville, Tennessee, had come on a medical mission to Punjab.

He said the team also performed implantation in Karachi while they would possibly do the same in Rawalpindi.

The Rotary Club Multan hosted a dinner on Wednesday where Dr Bruce said that they were using the latest generation Edwards Sapien 3 Valve in the procedures.

He said that the valve being used by them cost $32,500 which includes valve and delivery system.

“What is worth mentioning is that they were donated by humans who should be called angels who have chosen to stay anonymous,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2018