Doctors at the City Cardiology Center in Almaty, Kazakhstan have successfully performed two complex aortic valve replacement procedures on elderly patients-without the use of general anesthesia.

The high-tech interventions were carried out using the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) method on patients aged 72 and 77 suffering from critical aortic valve stenosis. Remarkably, both operations were performed while the patients remained conscious, eliminating the risks associated with general anesthesia, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Medical specialists note that this approach significantly reduces the likelihood of complications and accelerates recovery-an especially important factor for elderly patients who often have multiple chronic conditions.

In cases of critical aortic stenosis, the heart experiences extreme overload due to high pressure between the left ventricle and the aorta. Without timely intervention, the myocardium gradually loses its ability to contract effectively.

Interventional cardiologist Orazbek Sakhov stressed the importance of early treatment, warning that once the heart muscle loses its capacity to recover, even valve replacement may no longer restore normal heart size or function.

The minimally invasive procedure does not require open-heart surgery. Instead, doctors delivered the artificial valve through the femoral artery, positioning it precisely using X-ray and ultrasound guidance.

The Almaty City Cardiology Center has been performing TAVI procedures for more than three years, with over 80 successful operations completed to date-underscoring the city’s growing role as a hub for advanced medical innovation. Earlier, Almaty also made headlines by performing the country’s first deep brain stimulation surgery.