Alternative procedures to open-heart surgery

CEBU, Philippines — Minimally invasive heart procedures are emerging as viable alternatives to open-heart surgery, offering new hope to patients in the Visayas, experts said during a roundtable discussion in Cebu on Friday, April 17.

At the discussion titled “Redefining Heart Care: State-of-the-Art Solutions for Today’s Patients,” specialists from the Singapore-based Asian Heart and Vascular Centre (AHVC) highlighted how advances in catheter-based treatments are transforming the management of cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death in the Philippines.

Dr. Edgar Tay, an interventional cardiologist, said modern technologies now allow doctors to treat even elderly and high-risk patients without the need for conventional open-heart surgery.

“Minimally invasive heart procedures are now replacing open-heart surgery for many of our patients. What was once a major operation is now often a catheter-based procedure with significantly faster recovery time,” Tay said.

Among the procedures discussed were Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), used to treat structural valvular heart disease, and Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA), a newer technique for managing atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart rhythm disorder.

Both procedures, first introduced in Singapore in September 2022, are among the earliest of their kind in Asia.

Meanwhile, Dr. Pipin Kojodjojo, an electrophysiologist, highlighted the risks associated with untreated atrial fibrillation, particularly among older patients.

“AF increases stroke risk by 500 percent, and these strokes are often more disabling. However, stroke prevention is now possible through simple, ‘one-stop’ procedures that combine rhythm correction and long-term protection, often without the need for lifelong medications,” he said.

He also warned that valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation remain underdiagnosed in the region despite their serious consequences. Untreated valve disease can be fatal, but newer interventions such as TAVI offer life-saving options without requiring a chest incision.

The discussion comes as more Cebuano patients explore treatment options abroad, particularly in Singapore, where specialized cardiovascular care and subspecialty expertise are more widely available.

AHVC officials said the center is working to bridge this gap by strengthening awareness in the Visayas and offering streamlined care for international patients.

AHVC operates across several private medical institutions in Singapore, including Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Gleneagles Hospital (Annexe Block), Parkway East Medical Centre, and Farrer Park Medical Centre.

The organization said the network is designed to provide faster access to specialized cardiovascular care and improved recovery outcomes.

AHVC said complicated heart cases continue to push patients beyond local care despite ongoing upgrades in Philippine hospitals.

While cardiac services in the country are expanding, the group noted that highly complex conditions often still require subspecialty expertise more commonly available in advanced international centers.

AHVC also stressed the importance of early detection, noting that many serious heart conditions develop silently but become significantly more dangerous as they progress.

“Everybody should know your numbers,” Kojodjojo said, urging the public to regularly monitor key health indicators such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

AHVC said its integrated approach enables patients to move from high-precision imaging, such as cardiac MRI and CT angiography, to intervention within a single treatment window.

The center also offers preventive screening programs tailored for patients with limited time.

As medical technologies continue to evolve, experts emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and informed decision-making, noting that patients now have more options beyond traditional surgery. — (FREEMAN)