Kuwaiti doctors break new ground in heart treatment

KUWAIT: In a regional medical breakthrough, Kuwait’s Chest Diseases Hospital has successfully performed a pioneering cardiac procedure on two patients suffering from intractable angina pectoris. The hospital became the first in the Middle East to implant cardiac stents using an advanced catheterization method via the jugular vein under local anesthesia.

Dr Abdullah Al-Enezi, Head of the Cardiology Department at the hospital, announced that the two procedures were performed in collaboration with Dr Khaled Al-Marri, Head of the Cardiac Catheterization Unit. He explained that the innovative technique involves inserting a catheter through the neck vein to implant a stent directly into the cardiac vein, improving blood flow to the heart muscle and significantly relieving the symptoms of angina. Dr Al-Enezi emphasized that this milestone reflects the Ministry of Health’s ongoing commitment to introducing cutting-edge medical technologies and providing world-class care for cardiac patients in Kuwait. Previously, such complex cases were typically referred abroad for treatment.

Dr Abdullah Al-Enezi (left) and Dr Khaled Al-Marri pose for a photo. The two doctors performed a pioneering cardiac procedure on two patients suffering from intractable angina pectoris.

Both patients had severe coronary artery disease and had undergone multiple prior interventions, including open-heart surgery and therapeutic catheterizations, yet continued to experience debilitating chest pain. The success of these new procedures marks a major advancement in treating cases that do not respond to conventional therapies.

“This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Minister of Health and the Undersecretary,” Dr Al-Enezi noted, highlighting their efforts to equip the Chest Diseases Hospital with the latest technologies, propelling it into the ranks of internationally recognized institutions.

Atherosclerosis is one of the most common diseases and is the leading cause of death in Kuwait and around the world. The disease is usually treated with medications, interventional arterial catheterization, or open-heart surgery to replace the arteries. However, some patients do not respond to these treatments and continue to suffer from intractable angina, significantly affecting their quality of life.