Pioneering percutaneous intervention at the Inter-Balkan Medical Center for heart failure due to infarction
Thessaloniki, 26.5.2021.- For the first time in Greece, two percutaneous procedures were performed with complete success, within the framework of the international multicenter ALIVE study, in patients with heart failure after anterior myocardial infarction. The Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki and its 2nd Cardiology Clinic were selected as the Reference Center in our country for this innovative procedure, which offers excellent results in a large group of patients with necrosis of the anterior part of the heart and in fact free of charge, as the cost is covered by the study.
During the operation, the REVIVENT TC device is implanted for percutaneous remodeling and improvement of heart function, isolating the scar from the previous infarction, in a minimally invasive manner.
The first operations were performed by the Director of the 2nd Cardiology Clinic, Interventional Cardiologist Vlasis Niniou, under the ultrasound guidance of Interventional Cardiologist Ilias Niniou and the cardiac surgical support of the Director of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at the Athens Medical Center, a partner of the Inter-Balkan Medical Center, Apostolos Roumbelakis. Five more operations are already scheduled to be performed by the same team.
“We are honored to represent Greece in this international multicenter study that has much to offer patients with anterior myocardial infarction,” says the Director of the 2nd Cardiology Clinic, Vlassis Ninios and clarifies: “This is not an experimental study. The device has been approved by the EU and has already been carried out in recent years. Due to its cost, it is fortunate that we have free access, thanks to the study, for Greek patients. It offers almost bloodless treatment and very fast recovery, compared to cardiac surgeries. Through a percutaneous approach and combined intervention by the Interventional Cardiologist and the Cardiac Surgeon, we change the shape and size of the heart, isolating the scar created by the old infarction. In this way, we modify its behavior.”
“This hybrid procedure creates enormous potential in the treatment of patients with post-infarction failure, who take many medications, often no longer respond to drug therapy and have a very poor quality of life,” notes Cardiac Surgeon Apostolos Roumbelakis and adds: “Their next option is high-risk cardiac surgery, such as left ventricular abdominoplasty, heart transplantation or the implantation of assistive devices. Having extensive experience in performing the above procedures, I am impressed by the results of the procedure with the REVIVENT TC device, within the context of the study. With a very small thoracotomy, we guide the device to the heart, drastically reducing the time of the operation, postoperative pain and recovery”.
“The operation is performed under continuous ultrasound control with 3D transesophageal echocardiography”, emphasizes the Interventional Cardiologist, specialized in imaging techniques, Ilias Ninios and notes: “We have excellent visibility at every step of the passage of the special material that will be transferred to the heart in order to achieve its folding, resulting in a reduction in its volume and its remodeling. It is fortunate for Greek patients that they can benefit free of charge for hospitalization, medical fees and the device, as the cost is covered by the study. Of course, they must have qualified as suitable for this specific treatment”, he concludes.
The Reporting Group of the 2nd Cardiology Clinic of the Interbalkan Medical Center also included the Anesthesiologist Maria Asimaki and the Interventional Cardiologist Athinodoros Nikitopoulos. The staff of the Hemodynamic Laboratory and the Cardiac Surgery Department also contributed, while the support and training was provided by the company BioVentrix.
Information about the study:
2nd Cardiology Clinic, tel. 2310 400 929
