Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar’s Cardiac Science Department Achieves Milestone with Rare Triple Valve Replacement Surgery

Bhubaneswar, Dec 24: Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, successfully performed a rare and complex triple valve replacement surgery on a 45-year-old woman from Ganjam district, Odisha, marking a significant milestone in advanced cardiac care in eastern India. The high-risk procedure was undertaken at the hospital’s cardiac surgery unit to treat severe multivalvular heart disease caused by Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), a condition that had progressively worsened over several years and posed a life-threatening risk to the patient.

The patient, Runu Swain, had been suffering from progressive severe breathlessness for nearly 6–7 years, which gradually worsened from difficulty in performing daily activities to being unable to lie down due to extreme shortness of breath. Over time, she developed swelling of both lower limbs, face, and abdomen, along with jaundice, none of which responded to local treatment. Her medical history revealed that between the ages of 10 and 15, she had suffered from rheumatic fever, presenting with symptoms of intermittent fever and joint pain. This childhood illness caused progressive and irreversible damage to her heart valves over time, eventually leading to the development of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) in adulthood.

She was eventually advised to consult a cardiologist and was diagnosed with severe multivalvular heart disease caused by Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). For advanced evaluation and management, she was referred to Dr. Jitendra Nath Patnaik, Senior Consultant – Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery at Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, where detailed investigations revealed critical blockages in the mitral, aortic, and tricuspid valves, a rare and clinically exceptional condition, as simultaneous involvement of all three valves is uncommon. Given the severity and complexity of the disease, the patient underwent a six to seven-hour open-heart surgery, during which all three valves were successfully replaced in a single operative session, marking the first successful triple valve replacement surgery at Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar. 

Dr. Jitendra Nath Patnaik, Senior Consultant – Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery said,

“Such surgeries are particularly complex due to prolonged operative time, the impact on lung function, and the challenges associated with cardiac recovery after extensive surgical trauma. Moreover, outcomes in triple valve replacement cases are often unpredictable. However, the patient has recovered well and is currently stable, reflecting the high level of expertise and coordinated care provided by the team.”

The successful outcome was made possible through the combined efforts of the anesthesia team led by Dr. Vivek Chowdhry, the perfusionist team, the dedicated cardiac surgical OT team, and the ICU staff, who provided round-the-clock postoperative care, underscoring the hospital’s commitment to delivering advanced, multidisciplinary cardiac care.