Kuwait achieves global first with life-saving heart procedure on 111-year-old patient

Kuwait’s health sector has recorded a rare global milestone, after a Kuwaiti medical team successfully performed a highly delicate interventional cardiology procedure on a 111-year-old patient — a first of its kind worldwide.

The advanced procedure was carried out by Dr. Ahmed Al-Shatti, Consultant Cardiologist and Head of the Cardiac Catheterization Unit at Al-Dabbous Center at the Al-Adan Hospital, along with Dr. Abdullah Ismail, Consultant Cardiologist and Head of the Cardiology Department at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital and a board member of the Kuwait Heart Association.

The team used the Evolute FX Plus valve, one of the most advanced and latest devices available globally, reports Al-Rai daily.

According to the medical team, the patient had been living a relatively normal daily life and was under regular medical follow-up.

However, his condition recently deteriorated significantly, leading to repeated hospital admissions due to severe aortic valve stenosis.

The condition caused sharp drops in blood pressure, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and severe shortness of breath, making urgent medical intervention unavoidable.

The team confirmed that the decision to proceed with the operation was based on the worsening clinical indicators and the increasing severity of symptoms, which posed a direct risk to the patient’s life.

Thanks to the team’s extensive expertise and high level of readiness, the procedure was completed successfully in record time, taking no more than 40 minutes, without any major complications.

Following the operation, the patient’s condition fully stabilized and he was able to resume his normal daily activities, highlighting the remarkable progress achieved by interventional cardiology services in Kuwait.

This landmark achievement reflects the Ministry of Health’s continued support for advancing healthcare services and adopting cutting-edge medical technologies.

It also underscores Kuwait’s commitment to delivering world-class healthcare in line with the highest international standards, reinforcing its position as a leading regional and international medical hub.