New and innovative techniques for cardiovascular surgery

Magnetic resonance imaging of fetal hearts can save their lives at birth.

Technologies have advanced in the field of cardiac surgery

Endoscopic total heart valve replacement and 3D imaging in adults, and 3D magnetic resonance imaging of fetal hearts are two new and innovative cardiovascular surgery techniques that are saving the lives of thousands of children and adults. Problems with the mitral valves are one of the most common causes of cardiovascular disease.

DUBAI - Evelina London Children's Hospital and the Royal Brompton and Harefield Specialized Care Hospitals have unveiled the latest technologies in cardiovascular surgery, including a revolutionary 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that could potentially save the lives of thousands of babies from birth. In addition to the technique of replacing the heart valve using a complete endoscope and 3D imaging in adults, on the sidelines of their participation in the Arab Health Exhibition and Conference 2023, which will be hosted by the Emirate of Dubai between January 30 and February 02 of this year.

Statistics indicate a high prevalence of congenital heart diseases in the Middle East, compared to most other countries. Acquired cardiovascular disease is also one of the leading causes of death among adults in the Middle East, which is mainly attributed to inactive lifestyle, smoking and consumption of unhealthy foods. Problems with the mitral valves are one of the most common causes of cardiovascular disease, and they can appear as a result of changes in the heart with age.

Dr Owen Miller, Consultant Fetal and Pediatric Cardiologist at Evelina London Children's Hospital, demonstrated the latest 3D fetal heart imaging technology and surrounding anatomy to improve levels of prenatal diagnosis. Professor Tofan Bahrami, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at Royal Brompton and Harefield Specialty Care Hospitals, will present a live simulation of 3D endoscopic heart valve repair and replacement using high-precision surgery with an incision measuring just 3cm.

◙ Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among adults in the Middle East, which is attributed to an inactive lifestyle

The live simulation experiences aim to highlight the latest technologies from the two leading healthcare organizations, helping patients in the region to identify and treat heart disease before birth as quickly as possible, and giving hope to patients suffering from life-threatening heart valve diseases.

As part of their participation in the global event, the Royal Brompton Hospital, Harefield Specialized Care Hospital and Evelina London Children's Hospital are highlighting pioneering technologies in the field of accurately diagnosing types of congenital heart disease in fetuses during pregnancy, and reshaping the features of heart valve surgery in patients at the regional and global levels.

Evelina London Children's Hospital is working in partnership with research teams at King's College London to revolutionize fetal cardiac imaging research and technology. These teams have jointly developed a technology that is the first of its kind in the world to scan fetal hearts in 3D, which contributes to enhancing the capabilities of diagnosing congenital heart diseases in fetuses in the mother's womb.

The innovative technology introduced by the hospital in the field of magnetic resonance imaging adopts a number of motion correction methods to create a safe, comprehensive and high-resolution set of images of the heart of the fetus in the mother's womb.

The new method of cardiac imaging captures a series of MRI images of the fetal heart and uses advanced computer technology to create high-resolution 3D images of the fetal heart and surrounding anatomy. In addition, these 3D images can be converted into a physical model of the anatomy of the heart by means of 3D printing technology.

Combined with advanced ultrasound imaging solutions, 3D MRI images can provide critical in-depth analysis of structural heart defects before birth, allowing teams to plan treatment and improve patient care more accurately before and after the baby is born.

◙ The innovative technology adopts a number of motion correction methods to create a high-resolution set of fetal heart images in the mother's womb

The Royal Brompton and Harefield Specialized Care Hospitals exclusively offer the endoscopic technique for the treatment of patients with mitral valve disease, which is suitable for both tricuspid and aortic valve repair.

The surgery takes about four hours, and is performed under general anesthesia through a 3-cm surgical incision without the need to separate the ribs, which allows sufficient distance for the endoscopy tools to rotate 360 ​​degrees and provide accurate and multi-angle vision. This treatment provides an alternative to minimally invasive surgeries and thoracotomy, allowing for faster patient recovery, enhanced surgical accuracy, and improved aesthetic results.

A high definition 4K 3D camera is used to guide the procedure inside the heart, allowing the surgeon to repair or replace the damaged valve. During the operation, the surgeon wears 3D glasses and is guided by the images displayed on a 4K screen, so that the rest of the surgeons in the room can follow the same images. The images displayed on the screen can also be accessed remotely, allowing hospital specialists to collaborate with other physicians from anywhere in the world.

Laparoscopic surgery provides similar results to that of a thoracotomy, except that it requires a much smaller incision, with less bleeding and pain, enhanced accuracy and less chance of infection, allowing for a faster recovery process. Patients are usually discharged from the hospital after only three days, especially since the operation requires minimal invasive surgery. Some patients reported returning to normal activity in just four weeks with minimal scarring and complications compared to the traditional procedure.