Recently, the team of professor Lee Jae-won of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery has successfully performed an aortic valve replacement through the apex of the heart without opening the sternum of the patient through aortic stenosis.
Due to the current problem of the rapidly aging of the population, the number of patients with aortic stenosis has dramatically increased. Various risk factors such as aging, smoking and high blood pressure can cause degenerative changes and calcification, which could in turn restrict the opening of the valve. As a result, angina, dyspnoea, fainting and cardiac failure can occur.
Choi Yong-beom (71 years old) / Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
I had a sharp pain in my chest at night about five days before the surgery (prosthetic valve replacement).
So far, open-heart surgery has been essential in healing aortic stenosis. The patient's aortic valve is replaced with a prosthetic valve after making an opening in the chest of 20-25cm. A cardiopulmonary bypass pump has allowed doctors to stop the heart while they operate. However, open-heart surgery has a high risk of complications such as copious bleeding and cerebral infarction for the aged or those with aortic vascular disease.
However, as shown by an aortic valve replacement by the team of professor Lee Jae-won, after opening the chest 4-6cm and without the use of a cardiopulmonary bypass pump, a catheter can be inserted through the apex of the heart. Then, a stent for the heart valve is inserted by stretching the aortic valve through balloon inflation.
This new surgery can reduce operating times by about 50% and allow the patient to come off the ventilator on the day of the operation. It can dramatically reduce hospitalization and recovery times.
Professor Lee Jae-won / Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Patients with aortic stenosis will be able to return to their daily routines within one or two day(s) after having the surgery.
Choi Yong-beom (71 years old) / Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
Before the surgery, I was too out of breath to walk up the stairs to the 13th floor. Now, I can climb up the stairs without breaking much of a sweat.
It appears that this new surgery will be a safe and effective operation for the aged or those with vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.

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