A patient at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals has been given a new lease of life thanks to the work of the Trust’s heart intervention team.
The team completed a Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) procedure on cardiology patient, Roger Leeson, aged 78, from Thornton Cleveleys.
This marked the first time this process has been carried out in the region, and the team said it was achieved through considerable planning, preparation and teamwork.
The multi-specialist structural heart intervention team comprised the Trust’s Dr More, Dr Gamal, Dr Wiper, Dr Chalil, Dr Rozario, Mr Raimondo, Dr Chew, Mr Hesketh and the nursing team.
Consultant Cardiologist Dr Iqbal Malik of Imperial College was also in attendance, guiding the team through the process.
Dr Gamal explained “Undergoing the process was essential to improve this patient’s symptoms and quality of life – the only other alternative was to take tablets which would provide limited benefits. This procedure has really opened to the door in treating future patients who would otherwise have no further surgical options.”
The success was endorsed by the patient himself: “I’ve gone from having no hope to fabulous hope” said Mr Leeson.
After returning home Mr Leeson was interviewed on BBC Radio Lancashire where he again thanked the whole team who had cared for him, adding “It’s totally and utterly transformed my life.”
Cardiology team with Mr Leeson