Super Specialty Hospital Jammu Achieves rare Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Milestone
Super Specialty Hospital Jammu Achieves rare Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Milestone
Jammu, Nov 15
In a significant advancement in interventional cardiology and structural heart disease management, the Department of Cardiology, Super Specialty Hospital, Jammu, under the leadership of Prof. Dr Sushil Kumar Sharma, Head of the Department, successfully performed a complex Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI/TAVR) in Prem Singh a 59 yrs old resident of Nepal who was diagnosed with an exceptionally rare case of Quadricuspid Aortic Valve associated with both aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation. The procedure was performed during a dedicated Structural Heart Disease Workshop, marking a noteworthy milestone in the department’s pursuit of advanced cardiac care.
A quadricuspid aortic valve is an extremely rare congenital cardiac abnormality in which the aortic valve has four cusps instead of the normal three, with a reported incidence of approximately 0.003 percent. The coexistence of aortic stenosis, characterised by narrowing of the valve, and aortic regurgitation, involving leakage of blood through the valve, further increased the complexity of the case. This unusual anatomical combination demanded comprehensive evaluation, meticulous procedural planning, sophisticated imaging and exceptional technical precision to achieve a successful intervention.
The procedure was performed by a dedicated multidisciplinary team comprising Prof. Dr Sushil Kumar Sharma (Head of Department), Dr Anil Kumar Sharma (Assistant Professor), Dr Nasir Ali Choudhary (Consultant) and Dr Sandeep Sharma (Assistant Professor). The Cardiac Anaesthesia team, led by Dr Puja Vimesh (Head of the Department), included Dr Vikas Gupta, Dr Ritu, Dr Shivani Sharma and Dr Renu Verma, who played an integral role in the successful conduct of the procedure. Dr Gurbhej Singh, Professor of Cardiology, served as the proctor for the procedure, while surgical backup was provided by Dr Arvind Kohli, Senior CTVS Surgeon. The successful intervention reflected the collective expertise, clinical judgement and seamless coordination of the participating cardiology, cardiac anaesthesia and cardiothoracic surgical teams.
Highlighting the significance of this achievement, Dr Sushil Kumar Sharma stated that TAVI is an advanced minimally invasive procedure involving the replacement of a diseased aortic valve through a catheter-based approach, offering an important alternative to conventional open-heart surgery in appropriately selected patients. He emphasised that performing this intervention in a quadricuspid valve with associated stenosis and regurgitation presents distinctive anatomical and technical challenges, requiring individualised treatment strategies, precision-based decision-making and extensive procedural expertise.
He further highlighted that successful structural heart interventions depend on a comprehensive multidisciplinary Heart Team approach, involving detailed pre-procedural assessment, advanced imaging, appropriate valve selection and coordinated execution. The collective contribution of interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, cardiac anaesthesia professionals, nursing personnel, catheterisation laboratory technicians and supporting staff plays a vital role in ensuring procedural precision and patient safety.
The Department of Cardiology, Super Specialty Hospital, Jammu, continues to strengthen its capabilities in advanced cardiovascular interventions and structural heart disease management. The department regularly organises academic workshops on congenital heart diseases and structural heart interventions, providing valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange, professional training and exposure to emerging technologies. Such initiatives promote evidence-based clinical practices, multidisciplinary collaboration and the development of specialised cardiac services.
The successful performance of TAVI in this exceptionally rare congenital valve abnormality represents an important achievement in the department’s clinical and academic journey. It underscores its commitment to innovation, clinical excellence and bringing contemporary, minimally invasive cardiac treatment . The accomplishment stands as a testament to teamwork, precision and the department’s continued endeavour to advance the frontiers of modern cardiovascular medicine.
