Durban, South Africa – February 2025 – Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre has been officially Transcatheter Valve certified by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for its excellence in performing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve with an artificial one. This prestigious recognition underscores the hospital’s commitment to delivering world-class cardiovascular care and maintaining the highest standards in patient safety, clinical outcomes, and procedural expertise.

TAVI is a revolutionary procedure that offers new hope to patients suffering from severe aortic stenosis, particularly those at high risk for open-heart surgery. By using a catheter-based approach, TAVI allows for faster recovery times, reduced complications, and improved quality of life for patients. Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre’s achievement of ACC certification signifies that its cardiac team adheres to the most rigorous international guidelines and best practices in the field. The team was headed up and certification driven by cardiologists Soosiwala and Gafoor.

“We are immensely proud to receive this esteemed certification from the American College of Cardiology,” said Dr Nilesh Patel, Chief Medical Officer at Lenmed. “This milestone is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our multidisciplinary cardiac team, who continuously strive to provide cutting-edge, patient-centred care” added hospital CEO, Niresh Bechan.

Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre has long been recognized as a leader in cardiovascular healthcare in South Africa. With state-of-the-art technology and a team of highly skilled interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and specialized nursing staff, the hospital remains at the forefront of innovative cardiac treatments. The hospital has excelled in offering cardiac services to its community including and ranging from interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, paediatric cardiology, acute rehabilitation, transplants and Left-ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) life saving procedures. The hospital was the first hospital in Africa to receive accreditation from the ACC with its Chest Pain and Primary PCI accreditation and has maintained this accreditation for three years – receiving re-accreditation and a Centre of Excellence Award from the ACC in 2024. The hospital has also been recognised by the World Stroke Organisation with seven Diamond awards (the highest recognition) for acute stroke care.

This accreditation places Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre among an elite group of global healthcare institutions that meet the stringent criteria set by the ACC for structural heart disease programs. Patients can now have even greater confidence in the hospital’s ability to provide exceptional outcomes and comprehensive cardiac care.

For more information on Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre’s TAVI program and other advanced cardiac services, please visit www.lenmed.com or contact +27 31 581 2400.
Dr Soosiwala and Dr Gafoor – +27 31 581 2558