On April 11th of this year, Clínica Alemana specialists successfully implanted an aortic valve through the transapical access to a 94-year old patient. This is the only hospital that performs this type of surgery in Chile and was the first one to use it in Latin America.

A multidisciplinary team of specialists, including heart surgeons, clinical & interventional cardiologists, anesthesiologists, nurses and medical technologists, took part in the procedure.

This ground-breaking method is beneficial mostly for people suffering severe aortic stenosis, the third most prevalent heart ailment in the world. Elderly patients are especially prone to this illness, which greatly impairs the quality of their lives.

Dr. Michael Howard Chief of Clínica Alemanas Heart Surgery Service

The surgery is part of Clínica Alemana's percutaneaous implantation program, which was launched in November of 2010 using femoral access implantation. Then, the first transapical implants were carried out in January of this year in order to treat three 80+ year-olds, who were previously considered inoperable. Dr. Michael Howard, chief of Clínica Alemanas Heart Surgery Service, indicated that all three patients have now recovered and are leading normal lives. 
 
Advantages of transapical implantation
As aortic stenosis progresses, the heart must compensate by working
harder to pump blood out of the heart. Ultimately, the condition
results in episodes of hypotension or loss  of consciousness, and fluid may accumulate in the lungs, creating pulmonary congestion and causing the patient to experience angina, shortness of breath and  fatigue.