Last week, clinicians at Tygerberg Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital executed South Africa’s inaugural MitraClip implantation surgeries on five patients, aiming to enhance their life quality.
MitraClip surgery serves as a minimally invasive alternative for individuals with mitral regurgitation (MR) who may not be suitable for open-heart operations. Globally, about 150 000 patients have received this treatment, making it an effective option for those considered high-risk for traditional surgeries.
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Dr Hellmuth Weich, a senior specialist at Tygerberg Hospital, was instrumental in this endeavour, which was a collaborative effort between Tygerberg and Groote Schuur Hospitals.
He recounted, ‘Last week, history was made by a team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons from the two academic hospitals in the Western Cape when they performed the first transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair procedures in sub-Saharan Africa. Because of the cost and complexity of the procedure, this treatment is reserved for patients who are deemed inoperable through conventional surgery with very specific abnormalities to the valve. These MitraClip implants are the culmination of years of planning, preparation and training.’
Dr Weich added, ‘What makes the procedures more unique is the fact that most of the patients have full medical insurance, but a decision was made that they should be performed in a controlled environment in academic hospitals. Since it is likely to be performed in limited numbers, the teams from Tygerberg and Groote Schuur Hospitals decided to come together and form a single team to ensure maximum exposure for all team members.’
On 27 September 2023, Max Köster (87) from Durbanville, was the first patient at Tygerberg Hospital to undergo the procedure.
He expressed his gratitude, stating, ‘I feel very good. I was taken to the theatre at 7am. I can only speak highly of the care that I received here. The staff were wonderful with my admission as well as in the ward. The theatre staff were also very kind. I was completely surprised when Dr Weich told me that I could go home a day after my operation. I am going to take it easy because I should take good care of myself.’
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On 28 September 2023, Phillip Isaacs (71) from Athlone, became Groote Schuur Hospital’s first MitraClip patient after struggling with heart failure symptoms, including breathlessness from a mitral valve issue.
He remarked post-surgery, ‘After the operation, I felt normal again. I feel different because now I am no longer experiencing shortness of breath. Since I am still in the healing process, I am taking it easy until I feel completely better. The hospital staff were so professional. I could not feel anything during the process, and I was amazed when they said the operation was done.’
Dr Jens Hitzeroth, a senior specialist at Groote Schuur Hospital, emphasised the collective effort behind these procedures, stating, ‘It is important to note that this is teamwork, and I was honoured to be part of the team between the two hospitals.’
About Mitral Regurgitation (MR) and the MitraClip Procedure
MR, a prevalent valvular heart condition that becomes more common with age, occurs when the heart’s mitral valve doesn’t seal fully. This inefficiency affects blood circulation in the body.
Previously, the only solution was invasive mitral valve surgery. However, the MitraClip procedure, done using a catheter introduced via a leg vein, offers a less invasive approach.
The MitraClip device, a minute clip passed through the catheter, aids the valve in sealing, subsequently normalising heart blood flow. The procedure’s merits include drastically reduced recovery durations, usually a day or two post-insertion, and it offers high-risk or elderly MR patients a chance at a better quality of life.
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Picture: César Badilla Miranda / Unsplash