Chef undergoes 'innovative' heart valve transplant

A 51-year-old chef from East Sussex said he was able to return to work a week after receiving an "innovative" heart valve transplant after his health improved beyond his expectations.

Stephen Beadle, from Hove, was 37 when he was diagnosed with heart disease and had to leave several jobs due to the impact of the condition.

But he said the transplant helped his condition improve and he soon recovered from his surgery, which uses a thin catheter inserted through a leg vein to deliver a replacement heart valve.

Beadle said: "The recovery was really quick. I was back at work about a week later, which I didn't expect.

"I've definitely noticed I have more energy now and feel much better."

The University Sussex Hospitals (UHS) Trust said when Beadle's condition worsened due to severe tricuspid valve disease, doctors recommended him to undergo transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR).

Severe tricuspid valve disease is a condition which causes the valve on the right side of the heart to leak, potentially leading to heart failure.

The surgery is for those who are not suitable for open-heart surgery and all other suitable treatments have been exhausted, the trust added.

The UHS says Beadle is one of the first patients in the UK to undergo the procedure, which is still at the trial stage.

The TTVR procedure involves the heart valve being guided from the leg vein by advanced imaging for precise placement, according to UHS.

Patients are monitored over time to assess safety and effectiveness.

The procedure at Brighton hospital is led by Prof David Hildick-Smith, consultant cardiologist.

He said they were "delighted" to be delivering a "innovative heart valve procedure" for Sussex patients.

"Treatment options for severe tricuspid valve disease have traditionally been limited," he added.

"While tablets can help manage symptoms, they don't cure the condition, and open-heart surgery can carry significant risks, especially for older or frailer patients."

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