Last Wednesday, a new type of biological heart valve was installed for the first time via keyhole surgery at the Jessa Hospital in Hasselt. This was done by world-renowned heart surgeon Alaaddin Yilmaz, who performed the operation on a 55-year-old patient. “It is a biological valve from a bovine,” says the surgeon.
“This type of valve existed before, gave good results and lasted an average of twelve years. In recent years, this valve has been treated in a different way so that it lasts longer in animal tests. Then they extrapolated that to people and came to the conclusion that these types of valves should last a lifetime,” says the surgeon.
The first results of implanting these types of valves in the aortic valve position showed that they still function well in 99 percent of the cases after seven to eight years.
Solution for young people
Installing a biological valve via keyhole surgery would be cost-effective, especially in young people. “There are many young people who have a problem with their mitral valve and have to undergo major surgery. The benefits of a metal valve do not outweigh the loss of quality of life and constant risk of complications due to the use of strong blood thinners. With these biological valves, they only need a child’s aspirin and their quality of life is thus preserved.”
On Wednesday, the new mitral valve was inserted into a patient via keyhole surgery in the heart center of the Jessa Hospital. The operation was performed on a 55-year-old very active patient. He was told last year that he needed a new mitral valve, but he decided against a metal valve because he would have to take blood thinners for life. “That is the biggest disadvantage of a metal valve,” says Dr. Yilmaz. “People also die from complications of those blood thinners. He didn’t want that valve.” The patient looked for alternatives online and discovered that a biological valve was being implanted in the US. “He deliberately waited a year for that valve because he only wanted to have one operation.”
The placement on Wednesday was done via keyhole surgery. “This offers several advantages. For example, there is the very rapid recovery of the patients. Our largest incision is the same size as the thickness of my index finger,” said Dr. Yilmaz. The valve has a price of 4,000 euros. “That is not much more expensive than traditional medical valves. The file has been submitted to the RIZIV and I hope that they will really work on reimbursing these valves.” The patient responded very well to his operation and can go home on Friday or Saturday.
Doctor Yilmaz’s technique was developed by himself several years ago. “I hope that many doctors who are training to become cardiac surgeons will still be given the opportunity to apprentice for a longer period (…) It is an investment in the future, because the vast majority of heart operations are performed through sawing. of the chest will soon be a thing of the past.”
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