AVNeo™ (Aortic Valve Neocuspidization) is a standardized revolutionary procedural technique used to reconstruct the aortic heart valve using the patient’s own pericardial tissue.

Partnering with Japanese innovative investment platform, Sanamedi, (previously JOMDD) and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health, Jameel Health is introducing this pioneering life-saving procedure into Saudi Arabia.

Developed by Professor Shigeyuki Ozaki, the procedure uses the patient’s autologous pericardium, in the aortic valve reconstruction.  Over the past 10 years, more than 5,000 cases have been performed globally.

According to the latest data available (2018), as seen in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, the survival rate “after 10 years was 85.9% for AVNeo™” compared to less than 80% for alternative procedures.

The first Saudi Arabian operation was performed in February 2022; the patient was a 56 year-old male, with a history of heavy smoking suffering from rheumatic severe aortic valve stenosis.  The AVNeo™ ‘sizer’ kit was used to replace the aortic valve with a new reconstructed one using the patient’s own pericardium tissue. The surgery went well with very good results based on post-surgery echocardiogram readings.

The operation was performed by Dr. Khaled Eskander at the Saud Babtin Cardiac Center, with the attendance of Dr. Adel Tash and the international proctor Professor Alberto Albertini, Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery Division at Maria Cecilia Hospital who attended from Italy, to consult on AVNeo™ cases in Saudi Arabia.

Visit: AVNeo^TM