14-year-old patient recovering
Doctors report Iraq’s first successful heart valve replacement in Najaf
NAJAF– The Heart Center in Najaf announced the successful placement of a catheter to replace a pulmonary heart valve in a 14-year-old girl from Baghdad, marking the first operation of its kind in Iraq.
The patient, Zahra Haider, had been suffering a decline in her health following a surgerical procedure she underwent a decade ago as a young child.
Haider Qasim, the patient’s father, told 964media his family had faced a multiture of challenges due to his daughter’s condition, which include a quadruple hole in the heart and valve leakage. After considering open-heart surgery, Qasim said he sought alternatives to avoid the risks associated with such a major operation.
After consultations and attempts to find a solution, including considering an operation in India costing $24,000 just to fix the valve, the family reached out to Dr. Khalid Anbar in Najaf. To their surprise, a surgery was arranged there, providing a long-sought solution after years of searching.
Speaking to 964media, Dr. Khalid Anbar highlighted the procedure’s affordability and innovation, contrasting the exorbitant costs of similar surgeries abroad, which can reach up to $40,000.
“Specialists in congenital heart defects at the center [in Najaf] played a crucial role in this achievement, with support from government programs and collaboration with international experts enhancing their capabilities,” he added.
Dhafer Mohammed Sultan, a specialist in congenital heart defects and cardiology, emphasized the unique nature of this catheterization procedure in Iraq. It represents a modern approach to heart surgery, he explained.
Haider, the patient, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the medical team for the significant improvement in her condition. Inspired by the success of her surgery, she shared that she now aspires to become a doctor in the future, hoping to save lives through her work.