PESHAWAR: The public-sector Peshawar Institute of Cardiology carried out 14 transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures on August 14, claiming to have broken the world record of 13 such operations performed in a single day in Serbia.

The surgeries saved multiple lives, according to spokesperson for PIC Riffat Anjum.

“We are going to apply to Guinness World Records for those record procedures carried out by the country’s top doctors from different hospitals,” she said.

Ms Anjum said the accomplishment had reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to advancement in the field of medical sciences and showed the availability of modern facilities and the spirit of exceptional teamwork to grant a new lease of life to the seriously-ill people.

PIC medical director Dr Ali Raza, who led the team, said Tavi procedure was performed with severe aortic stenosis through the leg without opening the chest and the patient was discharged the very next day.

Spokesperson says institute to apply to Guinness Book of World Records

He said the surgery cost around Rs3 million but patients didn’t pay for it as the expenses were done by the government’s Sehat Card Plus health insurance programme.

“Replacing heart valves of so many people in one day was a huge challenge. Patients weren’t fit for open-heart surgery. However, procedures were successfully performed using modern Tavi techniques,” he said.

Dr Ali, who worked as an interventional cardiologist in Manchester before assuming his present role at PIC, said the patients, who underwent Tavi surgeries, were very symptomatic with shortness of breath, chest pain and syncope, and if those issues were left untreated, majority of patients could die in a year.

He said narrowing the heart valve, called aortic stenosis, was a serious cardiac condition, which was traditionally treated with open heart surgery, while the special procedure known as Tavi was replacing a diseased heart valve with an artificial valve without opening the chest.

“This achievement would not have been possible without the provincial government’s support,” he said.

Dr Abidullah, who heads the cardiology department, said the programme began in January 2022 and the continued hard work, innovation and dedicated efforts of the management and staff members led to its provision on a large scale.

“In June 2024, we performed seven Tavi procedures in a single day.The beneficiaries aged 70-80 years who got new lives through Tavi surgery. The success is the result of the tireless efforts of PIC’s cardiologists and surgeons,” he said.

PIC dean Prof Shahkar Ahmad Shah appreciated the entire team and commended the professionalism of doctors, cath lab and operating theatre staff members, technologists, anesthesia teams, nurses and support personnel for active participation in the surgeries.

“This accomplishment showcases the presence of world-class facilities and expertise, marking a significant advancement for Pakistan’s medical sector and we will continue to deliver services of international standards and pursue global recognition in the future,” said Dr Shahkar, a cardiothoracic surgeon.

He said along with providing the service to people in the province and other parts of the country, PIC was the main training centre for nationwide cardiologists.

“Since the launch of PIC, we are on our way to offering excellent patient care. The management has always provided full support and assistance to bring the latest cutting-edge procedures for improving patient care and will continue to do so in the future,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2025