Kuwait has launched a new minimally invasive heart valve program at Adan Hospital, marking progress in treating complex cardiac conditions. The Salman Al-Dabbous Cardiac Center completed its first two procedures using the LuX-Valve Plus device. Doctors accessed the heart through the jugular vein in the neck, using an opening measuring no more than one centimeter.
The procedures focused on replacing the tricuspid valve, which helps regulate blood flow through the heart. The launch coincided with a specialized medical workshop at the center, bringing attention to the hospital’s developing expertise in advanced valve treatment.
The medical team included specialists in valve disease, structural heart conditions and cardiac imaging. Dr Al-Tayeb Al-Qallaf, a consultant in valve and structural heart disease, led the team. Consultant cardiologist and echocardiography specialist Dr Ali Al-Humaidan also participated in the procedures.
Cardiologist Dr Ibrahim Hussein Arzoun and Dr Mohammad Abdulshafi joined the clinical team. In addition, anesthesia and intensive care specialists supported the procedures to help manage patients’ needs throughout treatment. Department leaders coordinated the wider support required to carry out the operations.
The participating departments included cardiology, under the leadership of Dr Bader Al-Ayyad, alongside Dr Huda Al-Fodari and Dr Mohammad Shamsah. Their involvement reflects the coordinated work required for complex cardiac interventions, which rely on collaboration between multiple medical specialties.
The LuX-Valve Plus device played a central role in the new program. The medical team used a catheter-based approach, entering through a vein in the neck rather than relying on a conventional open surgical incision. The access point measured approximately one centimeter or less, according to the announcement.
This approach may offer an alternative for selected patients who need treatment for tricuspid valve disease. However, suitability depends on individual medical circumstances, and the announcement did not provide details about the patients’ conditions or recovery. It also did not report whether the procedures produced any complications or specify their longer-term outcomes.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Health supported the program’s launch under Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Sheikh Dr Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah also supported the initiative.
The launch adds a specialized catheter-based treatment option to the services offered by the Salman Al-Dabbous Cardiac Center. Moreover, the accompanying workshop provided a setting for medical professionals to focus on the technique and its application in treating valve disease.
Although the announcement describes two completed procedures, it does not outline plans for expanding the program or indicate how many patients might benefit annually. Nevertheless, introducing the technique marks a development in Kuwait’s cardiac care services and highlights the role of specialist teams in advancing treatment options.
