Tristate healthcare systems, a private hospital in Lagos, has reportedly performed Nigeria’s first minimally invasive heart surgery.
A minimally invasive heart surgery involves making small cuts, called incisions, in the chest.
Instead of cutting through the breastbone, as is the case with typical open-heart surgery, the surgeon enters through the space between the ribs to access the heart.
Most patients who have this kind of cardiac surgery experience less discomfort and recover more quickly.
Four distinct patients reportedly underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), off-pump surgery, and mitral valve replacements at the Tristate Hospital while their hearts were still beating.
One of the patients was an 81-year-old woman who needed a valve replacement.
Speaking with Channels Television, Kamal Adeleke, renowned cardiologist and professor of medicine, said Tristate Healthcare had done over 120 normal open heart surgeries nationwide.
He said before the recent feat, Nigerians could only get life-saving minimally invasive heart surgeries in the West, India, and South Africa.
“Now, we’re using techniques that have never been done in Nigeria. The first one is the minimally invasive heart surgery,” he said.
“Apart from the fact that it is minimally invasive, we also did not stop the heart. The heart was beating while the blood vessels were bypassed.
“As a Nigerian that loves Nigeria, you can’t be happier that Nigeria can really do this.
“Nigeria can come out of a mess. When Nigeria puts its mind to something, it becomes doable.”
