IJN Offers New, Safer Heart Procedure First and Only in Malaysia
EXPANDS PORTFOLIO WITH NEW MINIMALLY INVASIVE HEART INTERVENTIONS
KUALA LUMPUR, 7 MAY 2025 – Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) has become the first and only medical centre in Malaysia to offer a new heart procedure called the mitral valve-in-valve (ViV) procedure.
This breakthrough gives heart patients a safer, less painful option to treat worn-out artificial mitral valves without the need for repeat open-heart surgery.
The mitral valve is one of the heart’s four main valves and works like a small gate, allowing blood to flow from the upper to the lower left chamber of the heart. When damaged or worn out, especially in patients who previously had valve replacement, it can affect how the heart pumps blood.
In the past, fixing this meant undergoing another major surgery but with the ViV procedure, doctors now use a thin tube (catheter) to insert a new valve into the old one, without opening the chest. This means less trauma for the patient, fewer complications and a faster healing process.
IJN first performed this procedure in November 2024 and has already treated two patients successfully. The procedure was led by Dato’ Dr. Azmee Mohd Ghazi, Head of the Cardiology Department and Director of Heart Failure Services at IJN. He is one of the leading experts in high-risk and complex heart treatments in the country.
Dato’ Dr. Azmee said performing Malaysia’s first mitral ViV cases procedure marked a significant step forward in IJN’s journey to provide world-class structural heart solutions.
“These procedures offer new hope for patients who may not be suitable for traditional surgery,” he said.
IJN Chief Executive Officer Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohamed Ezani Md Taib said as the only centre in the country offering the mitral ViV procedure, IJN continues to lead in bringing the latest advancements to Malaysia.
“Patients no longer need to travel overseas to access treatments like this. More importantly, our expertise and affordability make us a compelling destination for patients across the region as well,” he added.
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ABOUT INSTITUT JANTUNG NEGARA
Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) has been Malaysia’s leading heart specialist center since 1992, providing advanced care for a full range of heart, lung, and vascular diseases in both adults and children. As the nation’s premier tertiary referral center, IJN manages complex cases with unmatched expertise, performing over 4,400 cardiothoracic surgeries and 17,000 cardiac catheterization procedures annually. It is also a lifeline for children, conducting over more 1,500 pediatric heart surgeries and serving more than 15,000 pediatric patients each year.
Recognized as a finalist in the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council’s Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme, IJN attracts international patients seeking world-class treatments. Beyond clinical care, IJN contributes to medical research, outreach, and education, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of Malaysia’s healthcare system.
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