•One patient who underwent the procedure at NWH said he had visited the hospital with breathing problems and tiredness and was advised to consider the procedure as a permanent solution to his condition.
•NWH is one of the few private hospitals that conduct heart surgeries.
Image: HANDOUT
Elderly patients with heart problem may not need to go for an open-heart surgery.
A local hospital is now offering Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (Tavi), a nonsurgical procedure to replace the aortic valve in the heart with a manufactured one.
The Nairobi West Hospital, which is one of the local hospitals offering the procedure, said it is particularly suitable for patients with critical underlying illnesses.
The procedure is common around the world but rare in Kenya.
The hospital's interventional cardiologist VijaySinh Patil, said the procedure takes just one hour and is performed while the patients are conscious.
“The procedure is unique for the aortic valve. Patients with a lot of calcium or blockage or leakage in the valve can undergo this procedure,” Dr Patil said.
During the procedure, a doctor guides a tube with the replacement valve through the thigh to the heart.
One patient, who underwent the procedure at NWH, said he had visited the hospital with breathing problems and tiredness and was advised to consider the procedure as a permanent solution to his condition.
“I decided to undergo the procedure after Dr Patil told me I have a problem with the heart. I was a little bit tense at first, but he assured me it's a non-invasive procedure that would take less than an hour," said Godfrey Mbithi, who comes from Nyeri.
"I had suffered from the condition for a few years and it started to get worse. The doctors told me it would be life-threatening in the end if not addressed.”
Aortic stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve narrows and restricts blood flow from the heart, has traditionally been treated with open-heart surgery to replace the damaged valve.
However, such operations may pose significant risks, particularly for elderly patients or those with multiple comorbidities.
This minimally invasive approach results in shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery times and fewer complications compared to traditional surgery, according to medical literature.
The hospital said in a statement that recent advancements in Tavi technology have enhanced its safety and efficacy.
"Moreover, the procedure is now being considered for a broader range of patients, including those with intermediate and low surgical risk. As the population ages and the prevalence of aortic stenosis increases, the demand for Tavi is expected to grow," the hospital said.
Clinical trials have shown that Tavi is safe and effective.
However, the procedure carries some risks such as damage and bleeding where the catheters were inserted.
There is also a minute risk of injury to the kidneys or the heart, or leaking in the new valve incase it does not fit well.
NWH is one of the few private hospitals that conduct heart surgeries.
Most such procedures in Kenya are conducted by Kenyatta National Hospital, which conducted 374 open heart surgeries between July 2023 to January 31, 2024, according to a report by the Ministry of Health.
In the report to the Departmental Committee on Health on the State Department for Medical Services Budget Estimates for 2024-25, the ministry earlier this year said KNH conducted 677 cardiothoracic surgeries during the period.
The facility also conducted 11 kidney transplants and 2,424 minimally invasive surgeries in the six months.