EACTS Recognizes SUMS Professor for Innovative Heart Valve Surgery
Professor Ahmad Ali Amirghofran, a distinguished faculty member at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), has been honored with the 2024 Techno-College Innovation Award from the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). This prestigious award recognizes his groundbreaking work in developing a new method for constructing heart valves during open-heart surgery.
Professor Amirghofran and his team have dedicated years to pioneering innovative techniques in cardiac surgery. One notable achievement is the development of a pulmonary valve that has been successfully implanted in over 200 patients. Additionally, the team's groundbreaking construction of a tricuspid valve last year was hailed as the best invention and innovative technique in cardiac surgery.
The latest breakthrough involves the design and manufacture of pre-prepared stents, which are implanted with the patient's own tissue during surgery. This innovative approach enables the creation of a fully functional heart valve from the patient's biological material. "By utilizing the patient's own tissue, we aim to enhance the valve's longevity and performance," explained Professor Amirghofran.
This revolutionary surgical technique, from conception to implementation, was entirely developed in Shiraz. Traditional heart valve replacements often rely on mechanical valves requiring lifelong anticoagulant therapy or biological valves derived from animal tissue, which may not last long due to potential incompatibility. Professor Amirghofran expressed optimism that this new technique will address these limitations and offer a more durable and patient-friendly solution.