The British Veterinary Centre in Abu Dhabi just became the first in MENA to perform this complex canine surgery
In a first for the MENA region, the British Veterinary Centre in Abu Dhabi successfully performed the canine mitral valve repair surgeries.
Led by a team of distinguished veterinarians and supported by advanced equipment, this groundbreaking veterinary milestone marks a significant advancement in canine cardiac care in the UAE and wider area.
Mitral valve disease stands as the most common heart condition afflicting dogs worldwide. Traditional medical management can delay but not prevent physical decline and eventual heart failure.
Successful valve repair removes the requirement for long-term medication and allows a normal life, so The British Veterinary Centre, Abu Dhabi, undertook the challenge to pioneer mitral valve repair procedures for dogs in the region.
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Under the leadership of esteemed personnel including Prof. Katsuhiro Matsuura, DVM, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor in Open-heart Surgery at the Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, USA, and Dr. Jose Botte, Senior Veterinarian and Cardiologist at the British Veterinary Centre, Abu Dhabi, the 7-person surgical and perfusion team embarked on a series of three cases in urgent need on valve repair.
One of the cases had a life expectancy of one month without surgery. The patients underwent meticulous preparation for their procedures. In each case, cardiopulmonary bypass allowed the heart to be stopped while intricate valve repair proceeded.
Following the successful completion of all three surgeries, intensive post-operative care was provided and the outcomes for all three were excellent. A normal life span without medication is now expected.
Commenting on this historic achievement, Dr Martin Wyness, Senior Veterinarian and Owner of The British Veterinary Centre remarks, “We are immensely proud to introduce this advanced and highly successful procedure to the MENA region. Very few facilities in the world are capable of performing this procedure and we can now offer a cure here in the UAE for mitral valve disease. Seeing pets stop medications and regain their energy levels is truly wonderful.
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