Heart centre celebrates 1000th life-changing procedure
A major milestone has been reached for a heart procedure that helps patients avoid major surgery at the world-renowned Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC), based at Basildon Hospital.
Staff at the CTC have now carried out their 1,000th transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive procedure used to treat aortic stenosis, a condition where the valve that controls blood flow out of the heart becomes narrowed.
TAVI is performed by guiding a new valve into place via a blood vessel in the leg, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery. It’s often used for patients who are at higher risk from conventional surgery, offering relief from symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness and fatigue.
The milestone procedure was carried out by Dr Rajesh Aggarwal and Dr Rohan Jagathesan, Consultant Cardiologists, and the CTC catheter lab team, who also performed the centre’s very first TAVI in 2017.
Dr Aggarwal said: “The team and I did the first TAVI here at the CTC in 2017, so to do the 1,000th TAVI together was a proud and memorable moment. The procedure has advanced considerably since its inception. It is usually done under local anaesthetic, with patients up and moving within hours and home the next day. Each TAVI represents a life changed, and it is an honour to be part of a team helping so many patients get back to doing what they love.”
The 1,000th patient, John Ambrose, 83, from Basildon, said: “I was surprised and proud to be the 1000th TAVI. I have been well looked after on Roding ward, definitely excellent care. I am looking forward to getting on with life now.”
Thanks to innovations like TAVI, many patients are able to return home quickly, often within just a few days, and regain their quality of life without the risks of major surgery.