Back from the brink

High-risk TAVI brings octogenarian lady back from the brink

At 82, most would slow down and take life easy, but, for a soft-spoken grandmother from Bengal, life had other plans. Once independent and active, she suddenly found herself unable to walk even a few steps without gasping for breath. The pain in her chest had grown unbearable, now happening also whilst just lying in bed. This prompted her family to rush her to BM Birla Heart Hospital in Kolkata.

What followed was a remarkable medical journey that not only saved her life — but gave her hope to witness a long-cherished dream: seeing her granddaughter become a doctor.

Diagnosis

Her case was handled by Dr. Joy Shome, an experienced cardiologist, who discovered she was suffering from two serious heart conditions:

1. A very severely narrowed aortic valve
2. And a critical, dangerously calcified, blockage in the left main coronary artery

Given her age and fragility, conventional, open heart surgery treatment in the form of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) weren't an option. Even Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), typically a safer alternative, was high-risk in her case.

Yet, her determination, and her family's unwavering faith, inspired the team to act.

Procedures

First, the team performed a balloon valvuloplasty on an urgent basis, temporarily opening the aortic valve with a balloon to stabilize her condition.

Next, they carried out rotational atherectomy to her left main coronary artery. This is a technically challenging procedure involving drilling through calcium deposits, followed by stenting to restore blood flow through her main heart artery.

Finally, once she had regained enough strength, the team successfully replaced her diseased and severely narrowed aortic valve by performing the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure through a small hole in the groin. All of these procedures were done with local anesthesia with her being awake throughout.

Outcome

Given her feisty nature, she was up and about on the hospital ward just hours after the procedure and home within 36 hours! Within days, she was back to her smiling, mobile, and hopeful ways again. Her mental toughness and determination shone through it all.

“She had once dreamed of becoming a doctor herself but couldn't because of life circumstances,” said Dr. Shome. “Her eyes lit up when she talked about her granddaughter working hard to achieve that dream. For us, it may have been one more TAVI procedure — but for her and her family, it was their whole world restored.”

Today, the octogenarian is back to doing most of her daily activities. More importantly, she’s alive and well, and looking forward to the day her granddaughter puts on a white coat. Hopefully, her new best friend, a TAVI aortic heart valve, will help her realize this goal. Her story is a powerful reminder: sometimes, the greatest victories in medicine are not just in saving a life, but in preserving the dreams that make life worth living.