BREAKTHROUGH
‘A miracle has happened,’ says first patient in the UK to undergo life-saving heart valve operation
Video graphics show how the procedure places a new valve in the heart
A GRANDMOTHER has become the first person in the UK to have a “miracle” new heart valve replacement operation.
Rosalind Walsh, 79, from Cheltenham, had the “breakthrough” surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in December.
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The mother-of-two and grandmother-of-three was one of two patients to have the transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) op.
She suffers from tricuspid regurgitation, which means the valve that controls blood flow through the right side of the heart does not close properly.
Rosalind said: “I feel privileged to have undergone TTVR, which has been a miracle for me.
“I initially felt very tired after the operation, but I am feeling stronger and more like my old self again.
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“Prior to the procedure, I felt very worried that my health problems would never go away. I was losing hope.
“However, I can now take on more challenges, and I am able to see a positive way forward and a much brighter future for me ahead. I think TTVR will give hope to people like me.”
Rosalind told : “I don't want to sound too dramatic, but it feels as if though a miracle has happened to me
"I feel so much better than before I had it done."
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Tricuspid regurgitation is a rare disorder that affects around 0.55 per cent of Brits and 4 per cent of over-75s.
It can cause debilitating symptoms like fluid retention and breathlessness, and can be life-threatening.
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Patients had previously only been able to be treated with often high-risk open heart surgery and there are no effective drugs for the condition.
The new surgery is minimally invasive and involves replacing the leaky valve using a catheter through a leg vein under a light anaesthetic.
Patients do not need to go to intensive care and should be able to leave hospital within a couple of days.
It really is a breakthrough
Dr Sam Dawkins
Rosalind was diagnosed with tricuspid regurgitation in November 2023 after feeling “absolutely terrible” and suffering breathlessness that hospitalised her.
Her illness got so severe at one point that she had to spend nearly an entire month in A&E, where they drained 15kg of water from her body.
She is now able to drive her car again and is focusing on writing a book after the life changing procedure.
'HUGE STEP FORWARD'
Dr Sam Dawkins, of Oxford University Hospitals, said: “To carry out the first two procedures has been a huge step forward to provide meaningful treatment to this patient group.
“We are really excited to offer this technology safely, especially to people who have very few options and experience debilitating symptoms. It really is a breakthrough for them.
“We have been building up to this procedure for a long time and it has been a real team effort, including the hard work of both medical and non-medical colleagues.
“It was enjoyable for me as the operator seeing everyone pull together to make this happen.
“We have an enormous number of talented people here and I feel very privileged to work with them.”
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Dr Andrew Brent, of OUH, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to help these patients.
“It is our vision to provide the best care possible underpinned by high quality research and innovation, so we are very proud of the cardiology team who have delivered this UK first.”
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How does the transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement surgery work?
The technology used is the first and only approved technology able to fully replace the tricuspid valve with a transcatheter.
The leaky tricuspid valve — which controls blood flow through the right side of the heart — is replaced with a new valve.
It can be delivered via a leg vein under a light anaesthetic, avoiding the need for open heart surgery.
Patients do not need to spend time on an intensive care unit and should be able to leave hospital within a couple of days.
The therapy supports patients who previously had no treatment options, providing significant improvements in their quality-of-life.
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