Mater Hospital performs new heart valve procedure for patients too high-risk for open surgery

A major step forward has been made

The hospital has begun carrying out percutaneous mitral valve replacement, a minimally invasive procedure designed for patients who may not be well enough to undergo conventional open-heart surgery. Five patients have received the treatment since it was introduced in May, according to RTÉ News.

Instead of opening the chest, doctors can reach the heart through a catheter inserted into a vein in the groin and use it to place the replacement mitral valve.

The Mater described the procedure as a “major advancement in cardiac care”, highlighting the fact that it involves a much smaller intervention and can allow patients to recover more quickly than they would after traditional surgery.

What the Mater Hospital procedure meant for one Dublin patient

Derek Toomey, a 62-year-old from Finglas, had been living with a severely narrowed and calcified mitral valve since being diagnosed in 2023.

However, his serious underlying lung disease meant conventional surgery was considered too dangerous for him.

"I couldn’t do a full set of stairs without stopping. Getting dressed in the morning, putting socks on, bending down trying to tie up shoelaces … I couldn’t breathe."

- Derek Toomey

The difference was noticeable almost immediately. After being contacted by the Mater and offered the new treatment, Toomey underwent the procedure in June and was already able to walk around the hospital without stopping just three days later.

He has since returned to work, describing the improvement in his health as “like black and white”.

Professor Ivan Casserly, who leads the Mater’s multidisciplinary team, said the new procedure represents an important development in cardiac care in Ireland.

Five patients have received it since the hospital began offering the treatment in May, although the Mater has not yet confirmed how many more people could undergo the procedure.