Kuwait achieves regional medical milestone with advanced heart procedures

In what is seen as a groundbreaking achievement for Kuwait and the Middle East, the Chest Diseases Hospital has successfully implanted coronary artery stents in two patients suffering from intractable angina pectoris — making Kuwait the first country in the region to perform this advanced catheterization technique.

According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Enezi, Head of the Cardiology Department, both procedures were conducted under local anesthesia via the jugular vein, allowing for precise stent placement to restore blood flow to the heart. The operations, carried out in collaboration with Dr. Khaled Al-Marri, Head of the Cardiac Catheterization Unit, led to notable improvement in the patients’ symptoms.

Dr. Al-Enezi emphasized that these complex cases were previously treated abroad, but the Ministry of Health’s investment in cutting-edge technology now enables them to be managed locally with high efficiency. He expressed gratitude to the Minister of Health and the Undersecretary for equipping the Chest Diseases Hospital with modern tools that elevate it to international standards.

The two patients had previously undergone multiple interventions, including therapeutic catheterization and open-heart surgery, yet continued to experience debilitating angina due to severe coronary artery narrowing. This new technique offers hope for patients who do not respond to conventional treatments.

Atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of such conditions, remains a leading cause of death in Kuwait and worldwide. While typically managed through medication, angioplasty, or surgery, some cases resist all interventions—underscoring the significance of this local medical breakthrough.