The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) has successfully performed the MitraClip implants, which is designed to mend leaking hearts.
This significant milestone in the sector, has made the health facility to be the first one in Gauteng to perform the procedure.
The revolutionary procedure is aimed at treating severe mitral regurgitation, which is a serious heart condition where the mitral valve in the heart leaks significantly, allowing a large amount of blood to flow backwards into the left atrium when the left ventricle contracts.
This can significantly impair the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively and may lead to complications like heart failure if left untreated.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has welcomed the breakthrough procedure, adding that it is now accessible to both public and private patients in the province.
“This procedure is but an example of the many inroads we continue to make in the healthcare system through collaboration between the public and private sector.
We have the advantage of academic hospitals which boasts leading experts in many fields locally and internationally.
This allows us to pioneer new ways of improving patient care,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The expert team leading the procedures include Dr. Arthur Mutyaba, an Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Anupa Patel, an Echo Cardiologist, supported by Professor Tsabedze, Head of Department, Dr. Taunyane, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, as well as Sr Treasure Sukazi and the Catheterisation laboratory team which included nurses, radiographers and cardiac technologists.
Their collaboration ensured the successful implantation of the MitraClip in three state funded patients at the health facility.
Dr Mutyaba who is also the Director for Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory and Interventional Cardiologist at the hospital, said with the health facility now being capable of doing this procedure, the Gauteng public healthcare system will be able to help patients with severe MR who were deemed high risk for surgery and could not be helped.
“With this procedure now accessible, we are able to help these patients get back to a normal life without having to expose them to the risk that open heart surgery would have disposed them to,” said Dr Mutyaba.
The department said private patients in need of this life-saving procedure will pay using their medical aids or private funds.
The Charlotte Maxeke procedure marks the fourth round of MitraClip implants in the country, following the first 12 successful procedures performed at Groote Schuur and Tygerberg hospitals in Cape Town.
At present, MitraClip therapy is not yet available in private healthcare facilities, making these institutions the sole centres for this life-changing intervention.
