A series of minimally invasive heart surgeries were recently performed at the Institute of Cardiology and Internal Diseases in Almaty, without stopping the heart or opening the chest. The interventions were carried out on patients with severe mitral regurgitation using TEER technology (transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair), reports the website infohub.kz.
The international practical masterclass on transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) brought together Kazakh cardiologists and experts from China. The joint surgeries involved Professor Liu Yan, Director of the Echocardiography Department at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University; Professor An Guipeng, an international expert in intraoperative echocardiographic guidance for structural interventions; and specialist Zhang Chao.
From the Kazakh side, the high-tech interventions were performed by a multidisciplinary team from the institute led by Alexey Kolesnikov, head of the X-ray endovascular operating unit. The surgical team included interventional cardiologists Almat Kalzhanov, Nurzhan Temenov, Arystan Kuzhukeev, and Marzhan Ilyaskyzy.
According to the Ministry of Health, doctors first conducted clinical case reviews, discussed modern approaches to patient selection, and the specifics of performing the TEER procedure. "All operations were performed using the modern DragonFly system, which allows independent grasping of the mitral valve leaflets, ensuring effective elimination of mitral regurgitation," the statement said.
Thanks to transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring, precise positioning of the DragonFly system, objective result assessment, and maximum patient safety were ensured at all stages. All surgeries were successful.
The institute emphasized that mastering the new technology in cardiac surgery will expand the possibilities of providing high-tech medical care to patients with severe mitral regurgitation and improve their quality of life.