Cardiologists at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have performed a cutting-edge heart valve replacement procedure live to an international audience.

The streamlined transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) showcased Sheffield’s leading role in cardiovascular disease research and enabled Christopher Wild, 80, to go home within hours of having his faulty heart valve fixed.

The pensioner, who was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, said he hoped the procedure would put “years on his lifespan”.

The procedure was broadcast to a training conference attended by more than 1,000 cardiologists from across the world and performed by a specialist team of cardiologists and nurses at the South Yorkshire Cardiothoracic Centre using the streamlined light-touch TAVI pathway which was launched in spring last year.

Leading the way in cardiovascular disease research

Severe aortic stenosis is a common condition that causes the heart valve to narrow and not fully open, restricting blood flow out of the heart.
Christopher agreed to participate in three separate research projects running at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals looking at different aspects of care of patients with severe aortic valve disease.

This included the British Heart Foundation’s Protect TAVI trial, a UK-based trial, aiming to reduce stroke risk during the TAVI procedure, the UK Hydra valve registry which is assessing a new type of aortic valve for the first time in the UK and the multinational EASY-As trial. The latter aims to change the way people living with severe aortic stenosis are treated by offering early intervention to those without symptoms, rather than waiting until after life-changing symptoms develop.

Christopher, whose aortic stenosis put him at high risk of heart failure despite initially causing him no symptoms, said he had nothing but praise for the TAVI team.

“I can see nothing but benefit in my case. I was a little anxious, but the treatment was first class. It was a tough procedure to go through, and I'm still taking it easy, but to go home on the same day, help free up a bed for the NHS and have the luxury of coming home to welcoming arms; I count my blessings."

He was admitted to the Northern General Hospital’s Chesterman Wing at 7.30am and discharged at about 6pm. The procedure commenced at around 10.30am and lasted for three hours.

The TAVI procedure

TAVI is a relatively newer, less invasive heart valve replacement procedure which offers a viable alternative to elderly patients with aortic stenosis who are unable to undergo traditional open-heart surgery. Although open-heart surgery remains the ‘gold standard’ for younger patients, results of TAVI are comparable to traditional open-heart surgery and offer additional benefits of early recovery.

As well as the minimal access approach to the heart, Christopher, who lives in Sothall, also benefited from light sedation as part of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals’ pioneering ‘light touch’ TAVI service.

Interventional Cardiologist Dr Muhammad A. Rahman, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“Our focus was to exhibit the world-class research being done here in Sheffield and the streamlined light-touch TAVI procedure performed by our well-orchestrated specialist team of cardiologists, nurses, physiologists and radiographers which enabled our patient to go home on the very same day of his procedure after all the safety checks were complete. Christopher, who consented to the live broadcast, had an excellent result and it was fantastic to showcase the ongoing research in Sheffield and the UK to a wider international audience.”

Dr Rahman went on to talk about the benefits of research:

“Evidence from the active research programme in our department will also help us to further care for people diagnosed with aortic stenosis with or without symptoms and minimise potential complications such as stroke during a major heart procedure.

“Trials like the EASY-AS trial are important, too, as we know that without treatment, mortality from severe aortic stenosis is worse than some cancers and will help us determine the best time for TAVI to be offered to patients.”
The broadcast was live streamed from the cath lab at the Northern General Hospital’s Chesterman Wing using laptop-controlled cameras and specialist AV support.
When asked if he would be happy to have his procedure broadcast to a live audience, Christopher said he was “all for it”.

As well as making my life a bit easier, the live broadcast will help thousands of others and promote the benefits of the procedure,” he added.

Earlier this year, the same team reported that 86-year-old Donald Raybould was able to go home on the same day as his 'light touch TAVI procedure.