Revolutionising Heart Care at IJN with Cutting-Edge Technology
Mitral Valve Regurgitation: A Growing Concern
Persistent breathlessness, exhaustion, and a life where physical activity feels impossible – these may be signs of a heart struggling to keep up. At Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), Malaysia’s largest heart hospital, thousands of patients seek care for complex conditions each year. In the realm of cardiac care, cutting-edge innovations continue to redefine treatment approaches for heart conditions – and IJN stands at the forefront.
MitraClip: A Minimally Invasive Solution
Our heart has four valves – two on the left and two on the right. In simple terms, a valve is like a door; it opens and closes. The function of these valves is to transport blood from the lungs to the heart, the body, and back to the lungs. Over time, or due to disease, some valves can start to leak. In medical terms, this is called regurgitation.
The mitral valve, located on the left side of the heart, controls blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. With mitral regurgitation, the valve does not close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the atrium instead of moving forward to the rest of the body.
What does that cause? "Patients will get out of breath. With the leakage increasing, they get very breathless, they might not be able to do the things that they normally do."
Aortic Procedures: Effective Solutions
Heart diseases extend beyond valves, with the aorta also susceptible to damage.
"The aorta is the biggest blood vessel that comes out of the heart and runs throughout the body, supplying all the organs with blood," senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Paneer Selvam Krishna Moorthy explained.
Conclusion
IJN has performed over 100 MitraClip procedures with remarkable success, including on two patients in their 90s who now enjoy improved quality of life. With such advanced procedures, IJN continues to set benchmarks in cardiac care. For Malaysians grappling with heart conditions, these breakthroughs represent not just medical progress but also the promise of brighter futures.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is mitral valve regurgitation?
Mitral valve regurgitation is a condition where the mitral valve, located on the left side of the heart, does not close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the atrium instead of moving forward to the rest of the body. - What is the MitraClip?
The MitraClip is a minimally invasive device used to reduce mitral valve regurgitation. It is inserted via a catheter through the groin, guided by a transesophageal echocardiogram, and grasps and secures the valve leaflets to stop the leakage. - What are the options for aortic procedures?
Patients at IJN have two options: the On-X Ascending Aortic Prosthesis (On-X AAP), a mechanical valve made of carbon and metal, and the Konect Tissue Valve, a bioprosthetic made from cow tissue.