07 June 2010
Ludhiana, India
DR Harinder Singh Bedi, Head of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, at the Christian Medical College and Hospital on Sunday, revealed his recent success in the treatment of heart diseases with the implant of a third–generation valve known as the MOSAIC® heart valve.
This advanced valve has been used for the first time in the region (Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, J&K, Rajasthan and Chandigarh). Dr Bedi, while addressing the media, said, "Rheumatic heart disease is the most common ailment affecting Indians. The incidence is 18.6 per 1,000 (total 15.6 million according to the WHO).
Unfortunately, the trends demonstrate the presence of the disease in young girls and women as well. In Northern India, this ailment is quite often seen in Punjabi girls, the disease starts during school age and causes damage to heart valves leading to heart failure."
He said, "Mostly, patients need valve replacement.
They are usually prescribed blood thinning drugs after surgery to prevent the metallic valves from clotting. They have to avoid taking green leafy vegetables, as that could also interfere with the blood getting thinner. In Punjab, we advise the patients to avoid the most common green vegetable saag.
We also advise female patients not to get pregnant.
Tissue valves, on the other hand, have a short life span because of calcification." "The hemodynamic improvement of the new biological valve – MOSAIC– is dramatic as compared to metal valve, where some residual gradient always remains behind," said the surgeon.
About the MOSAIC®, he said, "It is crafted and preserved with innovative techniques. A cardiothoracic surgeon might implant an artificial heart valve to replace a diseased or damaged natural heart valve. Opening and closing more than 100,000 times a day, the artificial valve has to be strong enough to not get worn out.
This new valve is safe from cell phones, electric toothbrushes, magnets, x–rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations."
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