Complex Hybrid procedures Restore Mobility for Farmer aged 76, after degenerative Heart Valve Failure and Hip Fracture

Chennai, December 2024: Kauvery Hospital, a leading name in advanced medical care, has achieved yet another milestone by performing a groundbreaking dual procedure on a 76-year-old patient from Mayiladudurai, Tamil Nadu. A farmer and teacher by profession, he exemplified the spirit of resilience, undergoing an extraordinary medical journey to regain his mobility and independence.

The patient, who had previously undergone mitral valve replacement with Bioprosthetic valve in 2013, and a recent echo confirmed degeneration of that prosthesis with severe narrowing and leak along with very high right heart pressure (severe pulmonary hypertension) A second operation to replace this will be prohibitively higher risk, hence he was planned to have elective non-surgical Transcatheter Mitral ViV replacement in end of November, however, his journey took an unexpected turn when he suffered a fall at home, leading to a left leg fracture neck of femur (broken hip bone).

The urgency of his hip condition and the critical nature of his heart ailment presented a daunting challenge. It was a high risk procedure that required a multidisciplinary approach and the only safer way to treat him is to do both procedures under the same general anaesthesia, first the Transcatheter Mitral ViV followed by Left Total Hip Replacement, in an Hybrid Cath Lab Operating Room. This is available in very few centres in India, and given the availability of the Hybrid Cath Lab OR, Cardiac and Orthopedic expertise, this patient underwent Hybrid procedure safely and was mobilized within 36 hours.

“The patient underwent a transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve procedure through groin access, a minimally invasive technique that immediately reduced his right-side pressure from 130 to 60 and a normally functioning mitral valve. With his heart condition stabilized, the orthopedic team seamlessly proceeded with the hip replacement surgery on the same operating table at the Hybrid Operating Room,” said Dr R Anantharaman , Senior Interventional Cardiologist Kauvery Hospital Chennai.

The procedures were a resounding success. The patient was extubated from the ventilator and mobilized within 36 hours, defying all odds. His swift recovery enabled him to return to his village and resume his active lifestyle.

“Advances in surgical techniques have made the procedure safer, even for patients with multiple health conditions. This patient was given dual mobility hip replacement thus giving higher chances of life expectancy to hip and reducing any chances of complications in future. As a farmer he wanted to be ready before harvest season and needed better mobility, which could only be achieved through the dual mobility procedure.” said Dr Mukunth K , Senior Consultant Orthopaedics, Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet.

“This case is a perfect example of multidisciplinary care. Coordinating complex heart and orthopedic procedures within a single sitting not only addressed the patient’s medical needs but also ensured faster recovery and minimal disruption to his life. Our advanced Hybrid Operating Room enabled us to perform these life-saving procedures seamlessly, ensuring the patient could return to his life with renewed strength. This Hybrid Operating Room is safest infrastructure to perform high end cardiac and vascular procedures for high risk patients,” said Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director Kauvery Hospitals