First Desi tissue valve beating in the heart of an Iraqi

An Iraq national was given a new lease on life by doctors at KIMS Hospital, Kondapur, who performed a risky heart surgery along with abdominal surgery simultaneously.

At the time of civil unrest and war like situation in Iraq, a patient by name Mr. ADHAB ABBAS KADHIM, living just 20 km away from the capital city of Baghdad, had decided to come to India for his treatment. The 68-year-old tall patient was suffering from Severe Heart Valve related problem and could not able to find proper treatment in his home country. He contacted Dr. Nisarga, Chief Cardiac surgeon at KIMS Hospitals, Kondapur, Hyderabad, over email and visited the hospital.

Speaking to the Media, Dr. Nisarga, Chief Cardiac Surgeon, KIMS Hospitals, Kondapur said, “We have conducted multiple tests to find out the exact reason for his suffering. He was barely able to walk without breathlessness. The tests revealed that he was found to have Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation (severe leak in one of the major heart valves), along with inflammation of gallbladder with stones. As he had typical abdominal symptoms also, we worked along with our Surgical Gastroenterology team.”

“There is an interesting fact about the artificial valve in this case. Although there is a mechanical metal valve manufactured in India, it was due for long time to have our own tissue valve. First time in India, there is a tissue valve made in India out of bovine pericardium, all thanks to the global medical device manufacturing company Meril, for bringing out an international standard tissue valve after a detailed clinical trial, DCGI and CE approval) which was used for the first time ever in India. KIMS hospital creates history to become the first hospital to use made- in –India tissue valve, that too in an International patient,” he added.

Dr. Vijay Kumar Bada, Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist, KIMS Hospitals, said, “We decided to conduct Cholecystecytomy (removal of gall bladder) as he had inflammation of gall bladder and stones in it.  As there are major problems with two organs, in a rare occasion, the cardiac and gastro team decided to do simultaneous heart and abdominal surgery for him as a lifesaving procedure. We are glad that the patient had chosen us and trusted us for this procedure.

The patient underwent Heart valve replacement surgery by Dr. Nisarga and team, and gall bladder removal surgery(laparoscopic) by Dr. Vijay Kumar Bada and team, simultaneously. The total surgery took about 6 hours, patient did well during his postoperative period, he was discharged on 5th postoperative day, without any complications.

Expressing his gratitude Mr. ADHAB ABBAS KADHIM, said, “I am so grateful to the doctors here for his quick and accurate diagnosis and for providing the right treatment immediately. Today I am back to my normalcy because of the doctors here and I am eternally grateful to the team here. I am glad to know that I received first Indian made valve for my heart.”

As the patient was relieved of all his symptoms, as he got his life back, the smile was brought back on his face, and flew back to Iraq with a desi valve beating effortlessly in his heart!