Doctors in Almaty, Kazakhstan, have successfully carried out a unique heart procedure on a 95-year-old patient.

The team performed a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), replacing the aortic valve without opening the chest or stopping the heart. The new valve was inserted via a catheter through the femoral artery, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The Almaty Multidisciplinary Clinical Hospital explained that aortic stenosis is among the most dangerous heart conditions for elderly patients. Without timely intervention, it can lead to severe heart failure and drastically reduce life expectancy. Given the high risks of traditional open-heart surgery at such an advanced age, doctors opted for the minimally invasive TAVI procedure.

The operation was reported as successful, with doctors highlighting that modern technologies now allow even very elderly patients to receive life-saving treatments. Minimally invasive methods also help ensure faster recovery.

This patient became the oldest person to undergo TAVI this year. For context, a 103-year-old woman received the same procedure in 2022, and last year a 97-year-old man underwent it successfully.

In related medical milestones, surgeons at City Children’s Clinical Hospital No. 2 performed deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the first time this January on a teen with severe motor impairments, showcasing Almaty’s growing expertise in advanced medical procedures.