Thessaloniki Public Hospital Performs Groundbreaking Mitral Valve Repair

In a pioneering medical achievement, a 79-year-old patient in Thessaloniki has undergone a successful transcatheter mitral valve repair, marking the first time such a procedure has been performed in a public hospital in the city. The patient suffered from severe mitral valve insufficiency and a complex array of health problems, including heart and kidney failure, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes, making traditional open-heart surgery an unacceptably high-risk option.

The minimally invasive procedure took place at AHEPA University Hospital, a collaborative effort between the 1st University Cardiology Clinic of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and the Cardiology Department of Papageorgiou General Hospital. Doctors determined that the patient's deteriorating condition, marked by increasing shortness of breath, fatigue, and frequent hospital admissions, posed an immediate threat to his life.

Given the patient's multiple serious health conditions, the Heart Teams from both AHEPA and Papageorgiou, comprising cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and anesthesiologists, concluded that open-heart surgery carried too great a risk. They opted for a transcatheter repair as the least dangerous therapeutic approach.

Following the intervention, the patient has shown marked improvement in his symptoms and has been discharged from the hospital. He remains under regular cardiological monitoring. This procedure highlights the growing capabilities in interventional cardiology in Greece, offering a vital treatment option for high-risk patients previously considered inoperable. The 1st University Cardiology Clinic of AUTH and the Cardiology Department of Papageorgiou General Hospital were recently recognized as the first joint center in Greece for non-surgical repair of intracardiac defects.