Team siliconindia

• Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, successfully performed India’s youngest Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (ViV-TAVI) on a 38-year-old woman.
• The patient had severe valve stenosis and multiple comorbidities; minimally invasive TAVI was chosen after other hospitals denied surgery.

In a landmark achievement in Indian interventional cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, has successfully performed the youngest Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (ViV-TAVI) in the country on a 38-year-old woman. This pioneering procedure marks a significant milestone in minimally invasive cardiac care.

The patient, Smt. Bandakindhi Swapna, a 38-year-old resident of Hyderabad, had a history of surgical bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement done eight years ago. She recently presented with symptoms of progressive shortness of breath and fatigue, indicative of severe bioprosthetic valve stenosis, a form of structural valve degeneration. Her medical history further complicated the case, with coexisting conditions like bronchial asthma, anaemia, hypothyroidism, and seizure disorder.

Despite consulting several top hospitals in Hyderabad, Swapna was denied minimally invasive options due to her young age and high surgical risk. Recognising the urgency and complexity, the Heart Team at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, led by Dr. Karunakar Rapolu, Consultant Cardiologist, conducted a comprehensive evaluation using CT angiography and multidisciplinary consultations.

The team chose to perform a Valve-in-Valve TAVI procedure a catheter-based intervention that avoids the risks associated with open-heart surgery. For the operation, the Allegra self-expanding transcatheter valve was selected for its superior hemodynamics, repositionability, and compatibility with small valve annuli, making it ideal for redo valve-in-valve cases.

The procedure was successfully conducted via transfemoral access under conscious sedation. The new valve was deployed within the existing failed surgical valve with minimal transvalvular gradient, no paravalvular leak, and excellent coronary clearance.

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Dr. Karunakar Rapolu confirmed that the patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged three days post-procedure with significant symptomatic relief. At her one-week follow-up, she showed no symptoms, maintained stable valve function, and demonstrated improved physical endurance, now classified as NYHA Class I.

Mr. Tejesvi Rao Veerepalli, Regional CEO - Telangana, Apollo Hospitals, commented, “This remarkable achievement not only sets a new benchmark in India’s TAVI procedures but also underscores Apollo Jubilee Hills’ commitment to leading innovations in structural heart interventions”.

Dr. Ravindra Babu Annam, Director of Medical Services, added, “This is a landmark case and a testament to Apollo’s clinical excellence in handling highly complex, life-saving procedures through minimally invasive techniques”.

This success further cements Apollo Hospitals' leadership in advanced cardiac care, setting new standards for future innovations in treating structural heart diseases in India.