Keralam government hospital doctors perform rare catheter procedure to repair artificial valve leak

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Doctors at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram have successfully treated a leak near an artificial heart valve in a 55-year-old woman, using a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure, officials said on Friday (October 17, 2026).

The procedure was performed jointly by the cardiology, anaesthesia and cardiothoracic departments, avoiding the need for another open-heart surgery, State Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said in a statement.

The woman had previously undergone surgery for severe heart disease, during which her mitral and aortic valves were replaced with artificial metal valves. A new leak subsequently developed near the mitral valve. Such leaks usually require complex surgery involving opening the chest, but doctors opted for a catheter-based technique to avoid subjecting the patient to another major operation, Mr. Muraleedharan said.

A thin catheter was inserted into the heart through the femoral vein in the leg, and a specialised plug was used to seal the leak. The technique helped avoid an open-chest operation and the associated incisions and stitches, while reducing post-operative complications, he said. The patient’s condition is satisfactory, and she is expected to be discharged soon, the Minister added.

Describing the procedure as technically challenging and rare in a patient with two artificial heart valves, Dr. Mathew Iype, head of the cardiology department, said the achievement reflected the growing capabilities of government medical colleges in Kerala. The Minister congratulated the healthcare professionals involved in the procedure.

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