The human heart has four valves and amongst them Aortic Valve usually gets dysfunctional due to infection, leakage or valve shrinks due to ageing. So far, the only option was to replace it with either metallic or tissue valve by performing open heart surgery. The replacement of Aortic Valve had its own limitations or complications. Patients had to be on lifelong blood thinner medication with frequent visit to hospital for maintenance of valve. These valves had a limitation of 10-15 year of life, which requiring revision (redo) valve replacement surgerY. To overcome this recurring problem of replacing aortic valve, the cardiac science has evolved a new technique called ‘Ozaki’ named after Dr. Yukio Ozaki, Japanese, Cardiologist who developed this novel procedure.
The ‘Ozaki’ technique is an innovative & alternative technique of reconstructing aortic valve using tissue from the sac around the heart (autologous pericardium). Three leaflets are reconstructed by using patient’s pericardium. In this innovative procedure the god given valve is protected and has a better longevity and patients are not advised lifelong blood thinner medication and escape from possible other medical complications like stroke & side effects of prolonged medication.
Third from left Dr. Sivakumar, Cardiac Surgeon, I J N Medical College, Malaysia, Left to right; Dr. Prashvanath Patil, Dr.Mohan Gan, Dr. Richard, Dr. Ranajit Naik, Dr. Gananjay Salve.
Cardiac Surgery Department of KLES Hospital is one among the 8 Centres in India which offers this rare ‘Ozaki’ procedure to patients with aortic valve disease. In the last two days 5 patients successfully underwent this procedure. Dr. Sivakumar Sivalingam of I J N Medical College, Malaysia demonstrated the technique. All the five patients who have experienced ‘Ozaki’ surgical procedure are recovering well. Dr. Richard Saldanha, Chief Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. Mohan Gan, Head of Cardiac Surgery unit & team, Dr. Sharangouda Patil, Dr. Anand Vagrali, Cardiac Anaesthetist, Perfusionist, Nursing staff were part of this new technique. Dr. Richard said this procedure could be performed on all age group of patients.
Dr. Prabhakar Kore, Chairman KLE Society & Dr. Col. B Dayananda, Medical Director of Hospital thanked the visiting Malaysian faculty Dr. Sivakumar and KLES Cardiac Surgery team for moving forward with latest surgical procedure which will ultimately benefit needy patients.
