Having reached her 100th birthday, Anna Lazaridou from Kypseli is now recorded as the oldest patient in our country – and one of the few centenarians in the world – who underwent cardiac surgery.

The 100-year-old patient, who suffered from severe calcific stenosis of the aortic valve, underwent the TAVI method at the Second Cardiology Clinic of Errikos Dunan led by Professor Savvas Toumanidis and interventional cardiologist Vaios Tzifos, with excellent results, and has now returned to her everyday life.

A few years ago, her case would have been considered inoperable, as the high surgical risk and associated complications would have made surgery prohibitive.

“The TAVI method, which is now established worldwide as the main and appropriate treatment option for patients over 75 years of age or at high surgical risk, is based on the percutaneous replacement of the narrowed aortic valve without surgery. The procedure is similar to that of coronary angiography, lasts about an hour, has a duration of hospitalization of 2-4 days and immediately leads to an improvement of the patient’s clinical picture. It is performed without opening the chest, without temporarily stopping the function of the heart and without general anesthesia. If the narrowed aortic valve is not replaced in time, the quality of life will change dramatically and the life expectancy will be significantly reduced,” the hospital said in a statement.

“Mrs. Lazaridou, despite being 100 years old, is independent, lives alone and has returned to her daily routine. She consented to the publicizing of the operation because she wants to continue to contribute to society as a whole. It is a model for all of us, as it sends the message that life has value and we must defend it by all means, beyond age barriers. For our part, we thank her especially because she is not only an example, but also a source of inspiration”, emphasizes Vaios Tzifos.