72-year-old lady recovers without open-heart surgery

In a case highlighting the benefits of early diagnosis and team-based cardiac care, doctors at Medicover Hospitals, Secunderabad, successfully treated a 72-year-old woman suffering from acute heart failure without performing open-heart surgery. Detailed evaluation revealed a severe mitral valve leak — a condition commonly seen in elderly individuals. Considering her advanced age and overall clinical condition, conventional open-heart surgery was deemed high risk. 

The minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure was led by Dr. Pramod Kumar Kuchulakanti, Director – Structural Heart Disease and Advanced Coronary Interventions, along with Dr. Sagar Chandrashekhar Bhuyar, Dr. N. Siva Prasad Naidu, Dr. Amrendra Kumar Singh, Dr. Parvatraj Varun Gautam, and Dr. Subramanyam. Using advanced heart imaging guidance, the team successfully reduced the valve leakage, leading to significant improvement in the patient’s heart function and symptoms. 

Dr. Pramod Kumar Kuchulakanti mentioned that valve disease in elderly patients is often under diagnosed because symptoms like breathlessness and fatigue are mistaken for normal ageing. He pointed out that in this case, timely evaluation and a structured heart team discussion helped to choose a minimally invasive, catheter-based solution instead of high-risk open-heart surgery. With advanced imaging and transcatheter therapies, complex valve conditions can be treated even in patients above 70 years, he pointed out. 

The patient is currently stable and recovering well, with marked improvement in breathing and the ability to perform daily activities. Doctors at the press interaction emphasized that such minimally invasive, team-based cardiac interventions are increasingly transforming outcomes for elderly and high-risk patients, while reducing physical stress and hospital stay.