India's first successful Percutaneous TAVI performed at Fortis Escorts Cardiac surgeons team led by Dr. Ashok Seth New Delhi, February 29, 2011: India's first successful Percutaneous Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a non-surgical, without cardiopulmonary bypass, Cath Lab based heart valve replacement procedure was performed by a team of doctors led by Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman - Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute. The doctors at Fortis Escorts have performed this path-breaking and revolutionary procedure on three elderly patients, over 70 year old, with severe calcified Aortic stenosis.

All three patients had severe breathlessness and heart failure, which could have been fatal. They were high- risk patients for Valve Replacement Surgery as two of them had already undergone bypass surgery and all were getting on in years. The valve implantation was performed in the Cath Lab. Each procedure took approximately two hours and was conducted through the groin in an angioplasty-like procedure, without opening the chest or putting the patient on bypass.
Dr Ashok Seth has been involved in the early stage of development of the catheter-based valve replacement procedure and performed one of the first cases in the world in 2004. While briefing the media, Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman - Cardiac sciences, Fortis Escorts Heart institute said, "It is yet another first from the hospital which is known to undertake state-of-the-art procedures, in an effort to bring the latest and finest in healthcare treatments for patients. With this non-surgical procedure, patients who suffer from calcified aortic stenosis, which specifically increases with age, will benefit. Surgical procedures for these patients can pose a high risk, because of age and other factors."
TAVI is an alternative to open heart surgery and is considered a better alternate since it is a minimally invasive procedure. This heart surgery can be performed using echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance for visualization during implantation. The valve is positioned and deployed across the patient's diseased aortic valve. The patient can be discharged soon after the surgery, unlike in a bypass surgery. The patient also does not need to be on heavy medication and can resume a perfectly healthy life with the help of basic medication, regular check-ups and a proper diet.

About Fortis Escorts Heart Institute

Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, the first fully dedicated cardiac care facility in India is part of Fortis Healthcare
Ltd. Fortis Escorts Heart Institute has set benchmarks in cardiac care with its path-breaking work over the past
22 years. Today, it is recognised world over as a centre of excellence, providing the latest technology in Cardiac Bypass Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery (Robotics), Interventional Cardiology, Non-invasive Cardiology, Paediatric Cardiology and Paediatric Cardiac Surgery. The hospital is backed by the most advanced laboratories performing a complete range of investigative tests in the field of Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Biochemistry, Haematology, Transfusion Medicine and Microbiology.

About Fortis Healthcare (India) Ltd.

Fortis Healthcare (India) Limited is a leading, integrated healthcare delivery provider in the Pan Asia-Pacific region. The healthcare verticals of the company span primary healthcare, speciality day care, diagnostics and hospitals, with an asset base in 10 countries, many of which represent the fastest-growing healthcare delivery markets in the world. Currently, the company operates its healthcare delivery network in Australia, Canada, Dubai, Hong Kong, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam with 75 hospitals, over
12,000 beds, 580 primary care centres, 191 day care speciality centres, over 210 diagnostic centres and a talent pool of over 23,000 people. Fortis is driven by the vision of becoming a global leader in the integrated healthcare delivery space and the larger purpose of saving and enriching lives through clinical excellence.

For further information, please contact: Surbhi Goel, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute ; Mob: +91 98102 11229; Email: surbhi.goel@fortishealthcare.comAbhishek Maurya /Manas Mrinal, Hanmer MSL, Mob: +91 99997 72110 / +91 99535 58197, abhishek.maurya@hanmermsl.com