New medical achievement at Jaber Hospital: Aortic valve replacement via the carotid artery
A specialized medical team at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital successfully performed an advanced transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI) procedure via the carotid artery in the neck (Transcarotid TAVI). This medical achievement marks the first of its kind in the Middle East, performed on a patient with a complex medical condition that precluded the use of the traditional femoral approach or open-heart surgery.
The medical team included Dr. Ali Sabe 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 heart unit team comprising Dr. Ziyad Al-Khudair, Head of the Cardiac Laboratory, and Dr. Fawzia Al-Kandari, Head of the Heart Unit.
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 prevented the valve replacement from being performed via the traditional femoral approach (Transfemoral TAVI), 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. The procedure required precise coordination between interventional cardiology and vascular surgery specialties.
The procedure was broadcast live via satellite during the TCT Plus Middle East conference on transcatheter cardiovascular interventions. It was presented to a select group of experts and specialists in interventional cardiology, reflecting the advanced level of catheterization and heart valve treatment services in Kuwait and the capabilities of the national medical workforce.
Transcarotid TAVI is a modern, advanced technique used in selected cases when the femoral arteries are unsuitable for catheter passage. It enables the treatment of patients at 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 reflects 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. Over the past 18 months, the program has successfully performed more than 100 transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures.
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 mitral and tricuspid valve disease using the transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) technique.
The Ministry of Health affirmed that this achievement embodies the competence of the national medical workforce, the integration of specialized teams, and the adoption of the latest therapeutic technologies. This contributes to expanding the options available for complex and intractable cases and enhancing the quality of specialized healthcare in Kuwait.
