Doctors at RAK Hospital marked the opening of a new era of intervention in congenital heart disease for this part of the world by carrying out an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Closure without surgical intervention on a young adult by the technique of Device closure
ASD device (Amplatzer septal occluder) is a relatively new non-surgical technique used to treat patients with atrial septal defect in which patients are born with “hole” in the heart. It is the commonest defect encountered in adults with birth defects of the heart. These patients are usually asymptomatic in the first two to three decades of life and then start developing symptoms of breathlessness and fast heart beats. Untreated, the disease course is progressive resulting in heart failure in the fourth and fifth decade of life. The ASD device is placed using a catheter, which guides the placement of the device in the heart by radiological and echocardiographic imaging in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. The device then becomes a permanent implant that will seal the hole in the heart.
Through the catheter, the ASD closure device is moved to the heart and to the location of the heart defect. Once in the correct location, the device is allowed to expand to its preformed shape to straddle each side of the hole. The device will remain in the heart permanently to stop the abnormal flow of blood between the two atrial chambers of the heart. The catheter is then removed and the procedure is complete. The device is compatible with the body without causing any adverse reactions or “rejection”.
The patient is discharged on the next day of the procedure and allowed to continue with daily routine activities immediately after discharge
Within a few days, the body’s own tissue begins to grow over the device. By 3 to 6 months, the device is completely covered by heart tissue and at that point becomes a part of the wall of the patient’s heart.
The procedure at RAK Hospital was carried out by Dr S Radhakrishnan, leading Cardiologist from Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, who is a visiting consultant with RAK Hospital. He was assisted by Dr Mukesh Nathani, Dr Ajay Kumar Kanojia and the anesthesia team at RAK Hospital. Surgical cover was provided by Dr Arun Goyal. The procedure went very well with no immediate complications and patient tolerated it well. There are no scar marks on the chest as with all open heart procedures and pain is minimized.
“I am sure this will open new era of device intervention in congenital heart disease in this part of the world. Dr S Radhakrishnan has extensive experience (and the largest number of cases) in device closure of ASD, PDA, VSD and balloon mitral / pulmonary/aortic valvuloplasty and is world renowned in management of congenital heart disease in children and adult,” said Dr Ajay Kanojia, Director of Cardiac Services, RAK Hospital.
“This is a landmark achievement that the UAE medical community can be proud of. It adds to the locally available expertise in treating heart problems with the latest procedures, which is a blessing for heart patients,” said Raza Siddiqui, Executive Director of RAK Hospital.
The RAK Hospital has exclusive partnership in the Middle East with the globally renowned Fortis Escorts Heart Institute. The partnership has resulted in the setting up of the UAE’s first dedicated private paediatric interventional cardiac unit at RAK Hospital. A panel of hand-picked cardiac specialists from FEHI is stationed at RAK Hospital as part of the arrangement, adding further strength to RAK Hospital’s cardiac team.
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute has set benchmarks in cardiac care with its path breaking work. Dr S Radhakrishnan is himself a pioneer in pediatric cardiology, particularly in device closure of defects, Balloon Valvuloplasty of diseased valves in children and adults with congenital heart disease. He makes regular visits to RAK Hospital for consultations.
