World-first implant at Brisbane hospital

High-risk heart patients with limited treatment options now have hope of life-changing surgery, thanks to a breakthrough new procedure.

The cardiology and cardiac surgical team at The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane successfully performed the world's first transcatheter heart valve replacement with a new cardiac implant.

Site Lead Investigators Dr Anthony Camuglia, Dr Chris Cole and Dr Sam Hayman implanted the bioprosthetic valve in a patient considered too high-risk for traditional open-heart surgery.

The operation was part of a multicentre international clinical trial, spanning the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.

Dr Camuglia said the new procedure was a significant improvement for surgeons and patients.

"For many years we have provided the transcatheter mitral valve repair clip procedure, via a vein in the leg, for patients with a leaking incompetent mitral valve who are unsuitable for open-chest surgery. But there are many patients who are not well-suited to either of these options," he said.

"The ability to implant a bioprosthetic mitral valve via keyhole minimally-invasive technique, through a vein in the groin, is a major step forward."

The longer a leaky heart valve is left untreated, the greater risk of reduced life quality and early death.

The landmark patient, Wendy Deering, had gradually been declining with symptoms of a failing heart and was at high risk of complications with standard open-heart techniques.

"I wasn't suitable for open-heart surgery, and wasn't eligible for other options," she said.

"Dr Camuglia said, 'We've got this research trial – I think you'd be a good candidate for it'.

"I was over the moon when I found out I was accepted into the trial. I feel very privileged."

Ms Deering paid tribute to the quality of treatment she received at The Wesley Hospital, a private not-for-profit facility part of the UnitingCare group.

"Staff in here have been so good to me. I was in intensive care for one day and back on the ward by the next morning – they have been marvellous," she said.

Dr Camuglia said The Wesley Hospital's comprehensive cardiac program – developed over decades – gave Queenslanders the chance to benefit from innovative life-saving therapies before they were widely available globally.

"Being involved in these trials allows access to technology to help treat patients who either didn't have an option for treatment in the past or whose only option was relatively high-risk open-heart surgery, that they may not have recovered very well from or survived," he said.

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