In a landmark clinical achievement, Narayana Health City, Bangalore, has successfully performed Karnataka’s first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) using the latest-generation Edwards S3 Ultra Resilia Valve. This milestone has positioned Narayana Health City at the forefront of adopting advanced cardiac technologies.
The patient, a 71-year-old gentleman, was suffering from severe aortic stenosis due to a bicuspid valve. He had been experiencing repeated episodes of fainting (syncope) and dizziness, which are high-risk warning signs of the condition. Given his age and fragile health status, conventional open-heart surgery was deemed too risky. The cardiac team therefore opted for a minimally invasive TAVI procedure with the Edwards S3 Ultra Resilia Valve. To further safeguard the patient, doctors also used a cerebral protection device, ensuring that clots and calcium fragments did not travel to the brain during the procedure. Following the successful surgery, the patient was discharged without any complications and continues to be stable.
The Edwards S3 Ultra Resilia Valve represents the latest generation in transcatheter heart valve technology and is a major leap forward in the treatment of aortic stenosis. Bench testing results indicate that the valve can last more than 15 years, making it one of the most durable options available today.
Designed with a new tissue treated by Resilia technology, it also has a longer pericardial sealing skirt, which significantly reduces the risk of leakage after implantation, while its improved suturing and structural design allow for a superior valve opening, ensuring smoother blood flow and better heart performance.
In addition, the valve incorporates advanced dry tissue and anti-calcification technology, preventing calcium build-up and stiffening inside the valve over time. The dry tissue technology ensures that the valve need not be stored in a fluid like conventional valves, and can be transported without fluid or cold storage protocol too. Together, these innovations ensure safer, more reliable, and longer-lasting outcomes for patients.
Understanding Aortic Stenosis and TAVI
Aortic stenosis is a serious condition where the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body becomes narrowed and stiff. This makes the heart work harder, often leading to symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, and fainting. If left untreated, it can result in heart failure or sudden death.
Traditionally, the only treatment option was open-heart surgery, which carries high risks for elderly patients or those with other medical conditions. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a minimally invasive alternative that allows doctors to replace the diseased valve using a catheter, avoiding the need for major surgery. With the Edwards S3 Ultra Resilia Valve, this life-saving procedure has now become safer and longer lasting.
Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Suraj Narasimhan A, Consultant Cardiologist and Structural Intervention specialist, Narayana Health City, Bangalore, who led the procedure, said: “The Edwards S3 Ultra Resilia Valve is not just another incremental improvement—it is a game-changer. By offering longer durability, reduced leakage, and resistance to calcification, it gives our patients a reliable, lasting solution. Performing Karnataka’s first case with this valve is a proud moment for us, and it reinforces Narayana Health City’s commitment to bringing world-class, cutting-edge cardiac care to our patients.”
The Edwards S3 Ultra Resilia Valve is especially beneficial for elderly patients who are not suitable candidates for open-heart surgery. Now patients in the state and region have access to globally recognised treatment standards, without having to travel abroad.
The Resilia technology has been in use in the US and Europe for a little over a year. It was recently introduced in India, and Narayana Health is the first and only centre to have performed a successful surgery using the ultra-resilient valve in Karnataka. The hospital is proud to introduce this technology, which promises longer life expectancy of the valve, beyond 15 years. This milestone highlights the hospital’s ongoing efforts to combine clinical excellence with innovation and to deliver patient-centered, minimally invasive cardiac solutions. Incidentally, this was only the second such procedure in India.
