Breakthrough at the Heart Center of Kaplan Medical Center: Complex mitral valve implantation (Valve-in-Ring) via catheterization
Significant news for high-risk patients: The innovative LAMPOON technique prevents life-threatening complications and allows complex patients to avoid open-heart surgery and recover within days.
At the Heart Center of Kaplan Medical Center, a 72-year-old patient was recently treated for complex mitral valve disease characterized by significant leakage. Twelve years ago, the patient underwent a valve repair surgery using a ring, but over time the repair failed and the leakage returned. Due to his age, underlying conditions, and the fact that he had already undergone open-heart surgery, he was classified as a high-risk patient, which limited his treatment options.
The innovation of the procedure performed at Kaplan lies in the use of an advanced electro-surgical technique called LAMPOON, performed as preparation for valve implantation via catheterization. This technique allows for a controlled cutting of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve to prevent a life-threatening complication — Left Ventricular Outflow Tract (LVOT) obstruction. Thanks to careful planning based on advanced CT scans, the team succeeded in implanting a biological valve inside the existing surgical ring without the need for open-heart surgery.
Dr. Dan Haberman, a senior cardiologist in the catheterization unit, stated: "We are constantly striving to expand the range of treatments performed via catheterization to provide the most advanced response. We can now offer solutions even to complex patients who previously had no alternative but high-risk open-heart surgery. Through multidisciplinary teamwork, we managed to offer a safe and effective solution that significantly improved the patient's quality of life."
Prof. Kobi George, Director of the Heart Center, added: "We have succeeded in creating at Kaplan a unique heart center in Israel that brings together under one roof all the expertise required for treating complex heart diseases. We are proud to lead the implementation of innovative technologies that provide every patient with personalized care."
The patient, who was discharged home just two days after the procedure, expressed his gratitude: "I thank the cardiology team at Kaplan from the bottom of my heart for saving my life. Recovery from my previous surgery was very difficult, and I felt I had no other options. Today, I feel that my life has returned to its course."
The procedure was led by Dr. Dan Haberman, Dr. Leon Poles, Dr. Gara Gendelman, and Dr. Yogev Peri, with the participation of echo expert Dr. Valery Maldin and anesthesiologist Dr. Dana Hoffman.
The Renewed Heart Center at Kaplan: A 'One-Stop Shop'
The Heart Center at Kaplan Medical Center (Clalit Group), headed by Prof. Kobi George, is currently the largest cardiology center in Israel. It is equipped with four catheterization rooms, an intensive care unit, and a heart surgery department. The integration of echocardiography, heart failure, and cardiac rehabilitation units, alongside advanced imaging technologies like cardiac CT and heart scans, allows the center to operate as a comprehensive, independent system.
"Patients no longer need to be 'shuttled' between hospitals or medical institutes; they receive all treatment for any problem in one place. We worked for many years to build this infrastructure, recruiting the best cardiologists and purchasing the most advanced technologies to offer patients a new standard of care," says Prof. George.
