A new procedure for treatment of surgical stenosis of aortic valve was introduced at the Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery of UKC Tuzla in the past week. This is the minimal invasive way of replacing the aortic valve or the so-called. Mini AVR.
According to head of the Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery of UKC Tuzla, doc. dr. sc. Mustafa Tabakovic, Mini-AVR means minimally invasive replacement of aortic valve with minimal cuts and minimal trauma.
For illustrations, the classic approach involves a cut in the middle of the chest in the length of about 24 cm to 28 cm, while the new procedure involves significantly reduced cut in the length of a maximum of 8 cm to 10 cm.
According to Dr. Tabakovic, the wound will heal faster and the risk of early infection and the “unstable sternum” is significantly reduced as well.
It is important to know that this type of treatment cannot be applied to all cardiovascular patients.
“For now, this operating procedure will be applied to patients with isolated disease of aortic valve. In operative procedures where revascularization of myocardial access is also needed besides the aortic valve replacement, the procedure will remain the same as before. This treatment procedure is applied only in some cardiovascular centers in Europe and the region,” stated Dr. Tabakovic.
The new valve can be biological of artificial (special type of plastics or metal). Simply said, the biological valve has the advantage since there is no need for patients to take anticoagulant therapy permanently, but its defect is limited duration (10 years),” said Tabakovic.
He also noted that the decision on the type of valve is individual, it depends on age and some other factors, and it is made in the conversation of the patient and the surgeon.
(Source: klix.ba)