Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre (MCVTC) has successfully performed Nepal’s first minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) involving all three heart valves, a procedure cardiologists say is extremely rare.

According to doctors at the hospital, the surgery was performed on a 52-year-old male patient around 10 days ago, and he has already been discharged.

“This is a historic achievement and has been performed for the first time at the hospital by our own medical team,” said Dr Anil Bhattarai, a consultant cardiac surgeon at the hospital. “The patient’s mitral, aortic and tricuspid valves were severely damaged due to rheumatic heart disease. Considering the patient’s condition, a team of doctors successfully performed Double Valve Replacement (DVR) and Tricuspid Valve Repair (TV Repair).”

According to experts, performing MICS when all three heart valves are affected simultaneously is considered extremely complex and challenging. Such procedures are routinely performed at only a limited number of specialised centres worldwide. The successful completion of this surgery in Nepal demonstrates that the country’s cardiac surgery services are advancing towards international standards.

Normally, such complex heart surgeries require a complete opening of the breastbone (sternum) through a large incision in the middle of the chest.

Bhattarai said the surgery was performed through a small incision below the patient’s armpit. Doctors said the technique offers significant benefits, including less pain, reduced blood loss, a lower risk of infection, faster recovery and minimal scarring.

A team of specialist doctors and healthcare professionals, led by Bhattarai, successfully completed the procedure. The anaesthesia team was led by Dr Bibhush Shrestha and Prof Dr Bishwas Pradhan.

Following the necessary treatment and monitoring, the patient made a full recovery and was discharged from the hospital, the centre said.

Executive Director of Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre, Prof Dr Ratna Mani Gajurel, said the successful surgery has demonstrated Nepal’s capacity to provide advanced, world-class cardiac surgical services. He said the achievement would serve as an important milestone in reducing the need for patients with complex heart diseases to travel abroad for treatment while ensuring quality healthcare services within the country.