Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has made history by becoming the first private hospital in Pakistan to perform Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a revolutionary, minimally invasive procedure offering new hope to patients who are not candidates for traditional open-heart surgery. This milestone reflects AKU’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge medical technology to improve patient outcomes in Pakistan and the wider region.
Led by Dr Osman Faheem, Assistant Professor of Cardiology, and supported by the Cardiothoracic Surgery (CTS) team, AKUH has performed more TAVI procedures than any other hospital in the country. Also known globally as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), the procedure replaces a narrowed aortic valve (aortic stenosis) via a catheter, often through the femoral artery, avoiding the risks of open-heart surgery, especially for older patients or those with multiple health issues. TAVI significantly reduces surgical trauma, shortens recovery time, and helps patients return to their daily lives more quickly.
In a recent landmark case, Dr Faheem and the CTS team successfully used an alternative access route through the common carotid artery making it the first in Pakistan. This option is especially valuable for patients with anatomical challenges like peripheral vascular disease. With this success, three alternative access routes for TAVI are now offered, allowing for highly individualized treatment plans.
This journey began in 2018 when Dr Faheem’s team performed the first TAVI on a 94-year-old patient, setting a new precedent in Pakistan’s private healthcare sector. Since then, the team has advanced its capabilities through continuous training, refined techniques, and investment in the latest diagnostic and interventional tools. Every procedure is the result of meticulous planning and collaboration among interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and imaging specialists demonstrating the power of multidisciplinary teamwork in tackling complex cardiac cases. This is a great example of innovation and compassionate care coming together to transform lives.
Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has made history by becoming the first private hospital in Pakistan to perform Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a revolutionary, minimally invasive procedure offering new hope to patients who are not candidates for traditional open-heart surgery. This milestone reflects AKU’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge medical technology to improve patient outcomes in Pakistan and the wider region.
Led by Dr Osman Faheem, Assistant Professor of Cardiology, and supported by the Cardiothoracic Surgery (CTS) team, AKUH has performed more TAVI procedures than any other hospital in the country. Also known globally as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), the procedure replaces a narrowed aortic valve (aortic stenosis) via a catheter, often through the femoral artery, avoiding the risks of open-heart surgery, especially for older patients or those with multiple health issues. TAVI significantly reduces surgical trauma, shortens recovery time, and helps patients return to their daily lives more quickly.
In a recent landmark case, Dr Faheem and the CTS team successfully used an alternative access route through the common carotid artery making it the first in Pakistan. This option is especially valuable for patients with anatomical challenges like peripheral vascular disease. With this success, three alternative access routes for TAVI are now offered, allowing for highly individualized treatment plans.
This journey began in 2018 when Dr Faheem’s team performed the first TAVI on a 94-year-old patient, setting a new precedent in Pakistan’s private healthcare sector. Since then, the team has advanced its capabilities through continuous training, refined techniques, and investment in the latest diagnostic and interventional tools. Every procedure is the result of meticulous planning and collaboration among interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and imaging specialists demonstrating the power of multidisciplinary teamwork in tackling complex cardiac cases. This is a great example of innovation and compassionate care coming together to transform lives.
