At Arab Health, an alternative approach to treating faulty mitral valves was highlighted at the ABHI demonstration stand. Dr. Robert Smith, consultant interventional cardiologist at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Specialist Care, London, reports.
In the UAE, nearly 38% of deaths are attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD) – the second largest cause of fatality in the region. Faulty mitral valves are one of the commonest causes of CVD and can be caused by age-related changes to the heart. In the UK, experts at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals (RB&HH) have been leading the way, in recent years, to develop lifesaving alternatives for patients who are at increased risk from conventional open-heart surgery, or who might benefit from a minimally invasive approach. The transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) programme at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals is one of the most experienced and comprehensive in the world.
Human heart valves are exceptional structures. The mitral valve, in particular, is very complex with thin valve leaflets attached to the heart wall via multiple stringlike chords. Opening with every heartbeat, millions of times over a lifetime, the valve is susceptible to wear and tear.
What is mitral regurgitation?
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