Ozaki surgery, also known as Ozaki’s Aortic Valve Reconstruction (OAVR), is a relatively new surgical technique for treating aortic valve stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve narrows and restricts blood flow from the heart. Unlike traditional valve replacement surgery, which involves implanting an artificial valve, Ozaki surgery uses the patient’s own tissues to reconstruct the valve. This procedure has gained attention in recent years as an alternative to heart valve implantation due to its potential to provide better long-term outcomes for patients.
Medical tourism platforms like Medditour connect the patients seeking Ozaki surgery with the international treatment centers and facilitators for cost-effective treatments without any delay in the treatment.
In this article, let’s understand about the Ozaki surgery, its key benefits, how it acts as an alternative to traditional treatments, and how medical tourism in India influences the procedure.
Ozaki surgery: an alternative to traditional valve replacement surgery
The Ozaki surgery procedure involves removing the damaged tissue of the patient’s aortic valve and replacing it with their own healthy tissue. Surgeons take a small piece of the patient’s pericardium, a thin membrane that surrounds the heart, and use it to create a new valve. The reconstructed valve is then sutured into place. The procedure is minimally invasive and takes several hours to complete.
One of the key benefits of Ozaki surgery is that it avoids the need for an artificial valve, which can wear out or become infected over time. The use of the patient’s own tissue reduces the risk of rejection and infection. NHS states that there is no need to take lifelong anticoagulant drug therapy which can have side effects and lifestyle limitations when taken long term.
Additionally, because the reconstructed valve is made of the patient’s own tissue, it is able to grow and adapt to changes in the patient’s body, potentially providing better long-term outcomes compared to traditional valve replacement surgery.
While Ozaki surgery is still a relatively new procedure, early studies have shown promising results. One study published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery found that patients who underwent Ozaki surgery had a lower risk of postoperative complications and a higher survival rate compared to those who received a traditional valve replacement. However, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term outcomes and potential benefits of Ozaki surgery.
National Library of Medicine states that the overall survival rate is 84.6% and freedom from reoperation is 95.8% at 12 years.
Medical tourism and Ozaki surgery
In recent years, medical tourism in India has played a significant role in the popularity of Ozaki surgery. India has become a popular destination for medical tourists seeking affordable, high-quality healthcare, including cardiovascular surgery. Many hospitals in India offer Ozaki surgery as an alternative to traditional valve replacement, with the added benefit of lower costs compared to Western countries.
The medical tourism companies like Medditour help the patients to combine their treatments with vacation, which becomes an added advantage for surgeries, including Ozaki surgery. This helps the patients to come out of the stress that they had during the surgery.
In conclusion, Ozaki surgery is a promising alternative to traditional valve replacement surgery for patients with aortic valve stenosis. While the procedure is still relatively new, early studies have shown potential for better long-term outcomes compared to artificial valve implantation. Medical tourism in India has also played a role in increasing the popularity of Ozaki surgery.