Khon Kaen, 22 April 2026 – The Queen Sirikit Heart Centre of the Northeast, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, has reached a significant milestone in cardiac care with the successful completion of a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) performed via the left subclavian artery. This minimally invasive technique, which obviates the need for open-chest surgery, underscores the Centre’s advanced technological infrastructure and the specialised expertise of its multidisciplinary teams. 

In a notable knowledge exchange, the Centre was honoured to welcome Dr. Rafal Dworakowski, MD, PhD, FESC, FRCP, a distinguished cardiology specialist from the United Kingdom. Dr. Dworakowski collaborated with the Heart Team at the Queen Sirikit Heart Centre to perform the artificial heart valve replacement for a patient diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis

For this specific case, the medical team determined that the conventional transfemoral (groin) approach was clinically unsuitable. Consequently, they opted for the alternative left subclavian artery route—an advanced technique requiring precision-led collaboration between surgeons, cardiologists, and support staff. The procedure was executed seamlessly, resulting in an excellent clinical outcome. 

This achievement marks another important milestone for the Queen Sirikit Heart Centre in its mission to develop innovative cardiac treatments. It expands the range of safe and personalised treatment options available to patients and reinforces the Centre’s commitment to continuously elevating its standard of care to an international level.