Jaber Hospital Successfully Performs Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement via Carotid Artery in the Neck

A specialized medical team at Jabir Al-Ahmad Hospital, comprising Dr. Ali Sabah and Dr. Mohammed Al-Turki from the Structural Cardiac Catheterization team, in collaboration with Dr. Ahmed Al-Amir from the Vascular Surgery team, and within the framework of the Cardiac Unit led by Dr. Derrar Al-Khader, Head of the Cardiac Laboratory, and Dr. Fawzia Al-Kandari, Head of the Cardiac Unit, successfully performed an advanced transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) 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 valve stenosis, heart muscle weakness, kidney failure, and severe blockages in the arteries of both lower limbs. These conditions precluded the use of the traditional femoral approach for valve replacement and rendered him 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, demonstrating precise integration between interventional cardiology and vascular surgery specialties.

The surgery was broadcast live via satellite as part of the Catheter-Based Cardiovascular Therapies – Middle East conference, where it was presented to a select group of experts and specialists in interventional cardiology. This national achievement, accomplished by national cadres, reflects the advanced level reached by catheterization and heart valve treatment services in the State of Kuwait.

Transcarotid valve replacement is a modern and advanced technique used in selected cases when femoral arteries are unsuitable for catheter passage, enabling treatment for patients with high surgical risk through 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 operation, highlighting the advantages of minimally invasive interventions in accelerating recovery and reducing hospital stay duration, according to medical assessments of each case.

This achievement extends the successes of the Heart Valve Treatment Program at Jabir Al-Ahmad Hospital, which launched in September 2024. Over 18 months, the program successfully performed more than 100 transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures.

The program offers a comprehensive system for evaluating and treating patients with structural heart diseases through minimally invasive interventions, avoiding open-heart surgery when appropriate. It also provides treatment for mitral and tricuspid valve diseases using transcatheter clip technology.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that this achievement embodies the efficiency of national medical staff, the integration between specialized teams, and the adoption of the latest therapeutic technologies, thereby contributing to expanding options available for complex and refractory cases and enhancing the quality of specialized healthcare services in the State of Kuwait.