In its bid to widen its range of non-invasive treatment options, Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) has introduced a new procedure to aid congenital heart disease patients.
The procedure, transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) replacement therapy, is a non-surgical method that seeks to restore function of the pulmonary valve. The method is specifically aimed at both children and adults living with congenital heart disease who also suffer from pulmonary valve disease, particularly those who need to replace their surgical valves or conduits.
The pulmonary valve channels blood flow from the heart to the lungs. When this valve does not function properly, affected patients may suffer from breathlessness, fatigue, and impaired lung function.
Pulmonary valve disease is common among congenital heart patients. Prior to non-surgical options such as TPV therapy, congenital heart disease patients would have to undergo invasive procedures to rectify the faulty pulmonary valve. Compounding this issue is the fact that many of these patients will later need to replace their surgical valve or conduit as they grow into adulthood.
“Some congenital heart disease patients may simply outgrow their surgical valves,” explained Dr Marhisham Che Mood, Head of Paediatric & Congenital Heart Centre. “Alternatively, some conduits or valves can wear out over time, or become narrowed from a buildup of calcium and mineral deposits.
“Through procedures like TPV therapy, we can easily replace these faulty valves without having to put patients through invasive procedures such as open-heart surgery like in the past.”
Dr Marhisham added that the TPV procedure was one that has been clinically tested and proven, and has a 10-year track record of evidence regarding its safety and efficacy.
Meanwhile IJN chief executive officer Datuk Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim said the introduction of the procedure was part of IJN’s broader goal of making high-quality treatment accessible to even more Malaysians.
“To us, the benchmark of quality also includes the way the treatment process affects the patient as well.
“This is why we have always been keen on exploring and bringing newer and more non-invasive procedures here at IJN,” he added.
