Having celebrated her 100th birthday, Mrs. Anna Lazaridou from Kypseli is now recorded as the oldest patient in Greece - and one of the few centenarians in the world - to have undergone cardiac surgery. Her case confirms the new ways that TAVI has opened up in aortic valve replacement without surgery.
The 100-year-old patient, who was suffering from severe calcific aortic valve stenosis, underwent the TAVI procedure at the 2nd Cardiology Clinic of Henry Dunant led by Professor Savvas Toumanidis and interventional cardiologist Vaios Tzifos, with excellent results, and has now returned to her daily life. A few years ago, her case would have been considered inoperable, as the high surgical risk and subsequent complications would have made surgery prohibitive.
The TAVI method, which is now established worldwide as the main and recommended treatment option for patients over 75 years of age or at high surgical risk, is based on percutaneous replacement of the stenosed aortic valve without surgery. The procedure is similar to that of coronary angiography, takes about one hour, involves a hospital stay of 2-4 days and immediately improves patient’s clinical picture. It involves no chest opening, no temporary interruption of the heart’s function and no general anesthesia. If the stenosed aortic valve is not replaced in time, the quality of life will change dramatically and life expectancy will be significantly reduced.
“Despite being 100 years old, Mrs. Lazaridou is independent, lives on her own and has returned to her daily activities. She consented to the public disclosure of her operation because she wants to continue to contribute to society. She is a role model for all of us, as she sends the message that life is valuable and we must defend it by all means, beyond age barriers. For our part, we are particularly grateful to her because she is not only an example, but also a source of inspiration”, says Vaios Tzifos.
It should be noted that Henry Dunant, as a center certified by the Ministry of Health in the TAVI method, with several operations per year, state-of-the-art equipment, and qualified medical staff, is a leader in the implementation of this innovative invasive procedure.
