Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 13: The cardiology team at Father Muller Medical College Hospital, led by Dr H Prabhakar, the chief interventional cardiologist successfully performed a complex catheter-based valve intervention in an elderly female patient who presented with breathlessness following dysfunction of a previously surgically implanted heart valve in the fourth week of October 2026.
The patient had undergone surgical valve replacement one year earlier and subsequently developed progressive breathlessness and swelling of the lower limbs. On clinical evaluation and diagnostic investigations, she was found to have severe dysfunction of the surgically implanted valve, resulting in significant cardiac compromise and features of advanced heart failure.
Explaining the clinical challenges involved, Dr H Prabhakar stated that the conventional treatment option in such cases would be repeat valve replacement surgery. However, re-surgeries in cardiology carries considerable procedural risks, particularly in elderly patients with compromised cardiac function. A less invasive alternative, namely Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), was therefore considered.
The presence of a previously implanted surgical valve added considerable complexity to the procedure and necessitated meticulous pre-procedural assessment and planning. Following a comprehensive evaluation, the team decided to proceed with TAVR.
The patient demonstrated significant clinical improvement following the intervention, with early mobilisation within 24 hours of the procedure. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful, and she was discharged from the hospital after five days with marked improvement in her symptoms.
Dr H Prabhakar was assisted by Dr Pradeep Pereira, head of the department of cardiology; Dr Anand K T, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon; Dr Chetana Anand, cardiac anaesthesiologist; Dr Jostol Pinto; and Dr Ashoka, cardiologist, along with the multidisciplinary cardiac care team at Father Muller Medical College Hospital.
Highlighting the hospital's advanced cardiac infrastructure, Dr H Prabhakar stated that Father Muller Medical College Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to support the management of complex cardiovascular conditions. These include the AVVIGO intravascular imaging system (IVUS) and ROTAPRO atherectomy system from Boston Scientific, USA, for advanced coronary imaging and calcium modification during complex coronary interventions, as well as the Trinias catheterisation laboratory system from Shimadzu, Japan, which facilitates the performance of complex interventional cardiac procedures.
Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, director of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, congratulated the Cardiology team and the supporting departments for their successful collaborative effort, recognising their commitment to delivering advanced cardiac care.
This successful intervention highlights the institution's growing expertise in complex structural heart interventions and its commitment to providing advanced, minimally invasive treatment options for patients with challenging cardiovascular conditions.