Jaber Hospital Successfully Performs Middle East's First Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
A specialized medical team at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital, comprising Dr. Ali Sabah and Dr. Mohammed Al-Turki from the Structural Heart Catheterization Team, in collaboration with Dr. Ahmed Al-Emir from the Vascular Surgery Team, and within the Cardiac Unit team led by Dr. Ziyad Al-Khudair, Head of the Cardiac Laboratory, and Dr. Fawzia Al-Kandari, Head of the Cardiac Unit, successfully performed an advanced Transcarotid Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure via the carotid artery in the neck. This medical achievement marks the first of its kind in the Middle East.
The procedure was performed on a Kuwaiti citizen in his seventies who suffered from severe aortic stenosis, weakened heart muscle, renal failure, and severe blockages in the arteries of both lower limbs. These conditions precluded the use of the traditional transfemoral approach (Transfemoral TAVI) for valve replacement, and his overall health status was unsuitable for open-heart surgery.
The medical team utilized the carotid artery in the neck as an alternative access route to reach the heart and implant the valve, reflecting precise integration between interventional cardiology and vascular surgery specialties.
The procedure was broadcast live via satellite during the TCT Plus Middle East conference on catheter-based cardiovascular treatments, where it was presented to a distinguished group of experts and specialists in interventional cardiology. This national achievement, accomplished by national competencies, reflects the advanced level reached in catheterization services and heart valve treatment in Kuwait.
Transcarotid TAVI is a modern and advanced technique used in selected cases when the femoral arteries are unsuitable for catheter passage. It enables the treatment of patients with high surgical risk through a minimally invasive intervention, without the need for open-heart surgery.
The procedure was successful, the patient’s condition stabilized, and he was discharged from the hospital just two days after the intervention. This highlights the benefits of minimally invasive procedures in accelerating recovery and reducing hospital stay, according to the medical assessment of each case.
This achievement extends the successes of the Heart Valve Treatment Program at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital, which launched in September 2024 and has successfully performed more than 100 transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures in 18 months.
The program provides a comprehensive system for assessing and treating patients with structural heart disease through minimally invasive interventions, without the need for open-heart surgery in suitable cases. It also offers treatment for the mitral valve and tricuspid valve using the Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) technique.
The Ministry of Health affirmed that this achievement embodies the competence of national medical staff, the integration of specialized teams, and the adoption of the latest therapeutic technologies, thereby contributing to expanding the available options for complex and intractable cases and enhancing the quality of specialized healthcare in Kuwait.
