Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, has announced the successful result of a paediatric cardiac procedure performed for a 14-year-old boy at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi.
In a statement, SEHA stated that the surgery involved a minimally invasive tricuspid valve replacement for the patient, showcasing the facility’s advanced capabilities in paediatric cardiology.
Mohamed, the patient, sustained significant damage to his tricuspid heart valve following a road traffic accident in 2019. He initially required a pacemaker to manage his heart rhythm, which eventually stabilised, allowing for the removal of the device. However, his tricuspid valve continued to worsen over time, leading to severe narrowing of the valve, which caused exercise intolerance and breathlessness, according to the statement.
Under the care of Dr. Rizwan Rehman, Consultant Paediatric and Interventional Cardiologist at SKMC, the team decided on a novel, minimally invasive 'valve-in-valve' approach. This procedure allowed for the replacement of the tricuspid valve via a keyhole method, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery.
Dr. Rehman stated: “At SKMC, we are committed to providing our patients with the most advanced and effective treatments. The successful valve-in-valve procedure in Mohamed's case enabled him to avoid open-heart surgery and showed marked improvement in his symptoms within days. This outcome demonstrates our dedication to clinical innovation and patient-centred care.”
The procedure was conducted by a multidisciplinary team at SKMC, in collaboration with the electrophysiology team from Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), who successfully removed the pacemaker system before valve replacement. A 30.5 mm MyVal valve was implanted, and Mohamed was discharged home just four days after surgery.
Dr. Rehman added, “Mohamed’s rapid recovery and symptom improvement reaffirm the importance of adopting novel procedures in paediatric cardiology. SKMC is proud to be at the forefront of offering personalised, state-of-the-art care to its young patients.”
Post-operative follow-up confirmed that the newly implanted valve was functioning effectively. Mohamed has since experienced a significant improvement in his quality of life, marking another milestone for the teams at SKMC and SEHA.
This success story underscores PureHealth’s and SEHA’s commitment to pioneering advanced healthcare solutions that improve patient outcomes and elevate the standard of care across the UAE.
