Tavi targets diseases that usually start with heart murmurs.
The National University of Singapore Heart Centre (NUHCS) is training experts in the region to have an almost invasive surgery to replace the aortic valve heart valve, which proves superior to patients at immediate risk of complications.
Ivandito Kuntjoro, a senior consultant cardiologist at NUHCS, told Healthcare that the center is the country’s cardiologist and surgeons who are the program called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and are still in their early adoption stages.
“The Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia are doing Tavi,” he said through Zoom. “But [NUHCS] Have been doing this for 10 years and have performed a lot of procedures. ”
Demand for the program continues to increase, with the global market valued at $7.01B in 2024 and is expected to grow 10.1% to $12.41B annually by 2030.
Kuntjoro, director of the Structural Heart Program at NUHCS, said the center provides training that includes hands-on experience and management of complex structural heart cases in clinics, hospitals and intensive care units.
He said they trained a researcher a year, with funding from hospitals and sometimes from family institutions of trainees.
NUHCS is trained using 3D simulations. “Each patient was scanned by CT (computed tomography) allowing us to perform detailed 3D analysis of the access route and the geometry of the aortic ring,” Kuntjoro said.
The surgery is performed in patients with aortic stenosis, where one of the heart’s valves narrowed, making it harder for blood to flow to the rest of the body. Symptoms include chest pain, dyspnea, or drowsy episodes, if not treated.
“A key sign is the heart murmur,” he said.
“In Singapore, where the population is aging, the incidence of the condition is noteworthy,” cardiologists said. “Based on general estimates from other populations, the prevalence of aortic stenosis in people aged 65 and 65 and older is between 2 and 7%.
The center allows students to observe real-time programs. “The day before [the procedure]We conduct instructional training covering instructions, benefits, side effects and other key information for the program. ”
He added: “Our consultant also serves as Tavi Proctor, traveling in the area to train and oversee new centers or assist in complex procedures at established centers.”
NUHCS uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help analyze ultrasound images to diagnose heart problems. He said that while the center did not use AI for TAVI itself, doctors continued to adopt the latest technology, including the latest valves.
Kuntjoro, a clinical assistant professor at the National University of Singapore Yong Lin Lin School of Medicine, urges early detection, especially for aortic stenosis.
“When people think about heart problems, they often think it’s related to heart attacks or high blood pressure, but valve problems are also common. People need to identify symptoms because delayed treatment can lead to permanent heart disease,” he said.
