Durdans Continue Lighting Up Patients Hopes, Curing Hearts With Tavi Surgeries

The Durdans Heart Centre is currently in its sixth year of successfully performing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantations (TAVI) for patients without anesthesia and without open surgery. Durdans Heart Centre has achieved a significant milestone in the past five years by consistently performing successful Aortic Valve Implantations (TAVI) in Sri Lanka and has become Sri Lanka's leading hospital for effective treatment of heart diseases by using state-of-the-art technology in performing heart surgeries. With over 15 successful implants locally and over 5 regionally, Prof. Pandula is the only internationally recognized TAVI proctor in Sri Lanka.

Aortic Valve is an important part of the heart's blood pumping process, and its malfunction can cause disorders in all vital organs of the body. Factors such as age-related degeneration, infections, or birth defects can cause the aortic valve to become less functional. It restricts the blood flow which reduces the oxygen supply of the body and thus leads to multiple organ failure and premature death. In the past, the only option for valve repair was open-heart surgery, and most patients requiring aortic valve repair were considered high-risk. It was tragic that such patients refused open heart surgery and risked their lives. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a new procedure which allows surgeries to be performed on high-risk patients without sedation is becoming lifesaving.

TAVI surgery is an operation performed to replace a major valve in the heart without the patient losing consciousness. A human heart consists of four parts and the valve that opens from the left ventricle to the main aorta is called the aortic valve. Failure of this valve to function properly can be a threat to life and TAVI surgery involves reconstructing this valve. At the forefront of these surgeries is none other than Cardiologist Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi, who has received international praise for his expertise and achievements.

Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi, a pioneer in the field of heart disease and surgery, is famous for his expertise in performing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Procedures (TAVI) successfully. He has trained in the UK with experience at the prestigious Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and has greatly developed his knowledge and skills in Switzerland and Hungary. He has supervised TAVI procedures in various countries around the world and in addition to many surgical cases in Sri Lanka, Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi has also performed successful Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedures for complex and high-risk patients in countries like Indonesia and the Philippines and has thus become the first doctor in Sri Lanka to perform international Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).

Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi performed the first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) at Durdans Heart Centre in 2018. Despite the many difficulties the country faced due to the pandemic and foreign exchange restrictions, Prof. Pandula has performed over seventeen highly successful transcatheter surgeries. A significant aspect of aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures of Durdans Hear Centre is that most of these patients were previously considered unfit for the conventional procedure due to old age (many over 80 years old), frailty, previous strokes, lung diseases, previous heart surgeries, kidney failure or other challenging conditions.

However, under Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi's skillful treatment and modern facilities and technology at Durdans Heart Centre, they now have optimistic and positive hope. The results are on par with many other excellent cardiology units in the world.

Under the leadership of Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi, Durdans Heart Centre reached significant milestones in the field of heart valve implantation procedures and successfully performed both balloon-expandable and self-expandable methods under the TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) method, becoming the first Centre in Sri Lanka to achieve this unique feat.

Durdans Heart Centre performed the first Bicuspid aortic valve TAVI procedure in Sri Lanka and successfully performed the first TAVI in Sri Lanka for patients who had failed previous open-heart surgery and renal failure. In addition, Durdans Heart Centre also performed TAVI on a 60-year-old patient, making him the youngest patient to undergo the procedure while the oldest was 91 years of age. It is also significant that Durdans Heart Centre has achieved another milestone through TAVI surgery and left main aortic surgery. Our commitment to excellence drives us to continuously improve our standards.

Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi is extremely proud to be leading the way in performing successful transcatheter surgeries at Durdans Heart Centre, providing our patients with top-notch services and exceptional care. Due to the presence of this surgical procedure in Durdans Cardiology Unit, patients no longer need to go abroad for surgery Moreover, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantations (TAVI) procedures have been successfully performed for UK and Maldivian nationals who have come to Sri Lanka for treatment.

Mr. Sunil Siriwardena, 91, recently underwent a successful TAVI surgery and now he is fully recovered. Regarding the surgery, his daughter said this:

"Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi fully explained the safety of this surgery and the procedure. We received great help from Prof. Pandula in making the right decision regarding this surgery. He is very friendly with patients and families. My fears and shock regarding my father's surgery were quickly dispelled through Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi's encouraging words. I also got good recommendations from patients who had previously received treatment from him. So, I was able to cure my dad's illness quickly. The modernity and the facilities of Durdans Heart Centre, and the friendliness of the medical and nursing staff helped us put through a very difficult time."

To contact Durdans Heart Centre and Cardiologist Prof. Pandula Athauda-Arachchi:

Call 070 678 8455

Keep your heart healthy - Durdans Heart Centre is with you always!