- A Kuwaiti patient in his seventies has successfully undergone an advanced transcatheter aortic valve replacement through the carotid artery after severe vascular disease ruled out the conventional route and open-heart surgery.
A specialist team at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital has successfully performed an advanced aortic valve replacement through the carotid artery in the neck, in a procedure described as the first of its kind in the Middle East.
The procedure was carried out on a Kuwaiti man in his seventies who was suffering from severe aortic valve narrowing, weakened heart muscle, kidney failure and serious blockages in the arteries of his lower limbs. The patient’s condition ruled out the conventional femoral artery route for valve replacement and also made open-heart surgery unsuitable, prompting doctors to use the carotid artery as an alternative pathway to reach the heart.
The procedure was performed by Dr Ali Saheb and Dr Mohammed Al-Turki of the structural cardiac catheterization team, in cooperation with vascular surgeon Dr Ahmed Al-Amir, along with the cardiac unit team led by Dr Dharar Al-Khudair, head of the cardiac laboratory, and Dr Fawzia Al-Kandari, head of the cardiac unit.
The operation involved transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive technique used in selected patients when the femoral arteries cannot safely be used for catheter access. The successful procedure required close coordination between interventional cardiology and vascular surgery teams. The operation was also broadcast live by satellite during the Cardiovascular Catheterization Conference – Middle East, where it was presented to specialists in interventional cardiology.
The patient’s condition stabilised following the procedure, and he was discharged from hospital just two days later. Doctors said the limited-intervention approach can support faster recovery and shorter hospital stays in suitable cases. The procedure adds to the record of Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital’s heart valve treatment programme, which was launched in September 2024. The programme has performed more than 100 catheter-based aortic valve replacement procedures in 18 months.
The programme provides assessment and treatment for patients with structural heart disease through minimally invasive procedures, offering alternatives to open-heart surgery where medically appropriate. It also provides catheter-based treatment for mitral and tricuspid valve conditions. The Ministry of Health said the achievement reflects the expertise of Kuwait’s medical teams, cooperation between specialised disciplines and the country’s adoption of advanced treatment techniques.
The latest procedure also expands treatment options for patients with complex heart and vascular conditions who may not be suitable for conventional catheter access or open-heart surgery.
