In severe cases of degenerative aortic stenosis—or what is the same, the narrowing of the valve in the large blood vessel that originates from the heart (aorta) and does not allow the valve to open completely, which reduces blood supply and makes it much harder for the heart to function—the option is to operate for the purpose of repairing or replacing the valve.

The heart of patients with this condition can weaken and cause chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath; and also, stop beating.

Dr. Leonardo López Ferrero, interventional cardiologist and head of the ICCC’s Cardiology and Hemodynamics service, knows this. He is in charge of the team of specialists who this Monday implanted the first minimal access percutaneous aortic valve in Cuba.

The procedure, novel in the country and performed on two patients, places Cuban interventional cardiology in a valuable line of development for the treatment and quality of life of people with this condition, and who cannot be beneficiaries of conventional surgery.

Why is it a beneficial procedure?

According to the specialized literature, degenerative aortic stenosis has an estimated prevalence of between 4% and 7% in the population over 65 years of age. Around 30% of cases do not undergo surgery, due to contraindications to surgical treatment and associated comorbidities. Meanwhile, the global mortality of patients with this condition is 50% to 60%, between the first two and three years after diagnosis, if no intervention is performed.

Through two femoral arteries and a radial artery, the entire minimally invasive procedure is performed, Dr. López Ferrero highlighted.

“Greater advantages for the patient’s recovery, a less aggressive approach, a shorter hospital stay and the possibility of returning more quickly to family and work life, are some of the benefits it offers,” he said.

The interventional cardiologist explained that the two valves that were implanted today are percutaneous, that is, they are transported in a catheter to the aortic valve, a catheter is taken to the narrow aortic valve and the new valve (from bovine pericardium) that is assembled over a stent replaces the patient without the need for open surgery.

For López Ferrero, introducing this new technique in interventional cardiology in the country has a great impact: “In Cuba, more than 30% of our population is already over 75 years old and this is a disease that appears in advanced ages of life,” he specified.

The donation of the devices by the European company Iberhospitex S.A. and coming from India, allowed this very expensive intervention to be carried out, the specialist pointed out.

“These valves are priced at around 20,000 euros and, if you add the necessary equipment and consumables, the cost can rise to 60,000 euros,” he said.

According to the expert, the placement of these devices is the first step for the gradual start of a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) program, for which the ICCC is committed, although the institution has For many years, he has operated patients of this type and performed surgical replacement of the valve, by conventional approach.

It would benefit people who meet the established criteria (electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, angiographic and tomographic established and who have cardiac surgery contraindicated due to the high risk it entails).

Dr. Carmen Rosa Martínez Fernández, director of the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, stressed to the press that the medical act goes beyond performing a procedure, since it is part of a practical training workshop that follows the continuous training received by cardiologists center interventionists, and that can be extended to professionals from the rest of the country.

A multidisciplinary team made up of cardiologists from the Institute and the William Soler Cardiocenter, cardiovascular surgeons, sonographers, imaging specialists, anesthesiology specialists and nursing staff, were present at the intervention, which was accompanied by the Spanish doctor Ignacio Amat Santos, head of Hemodynamics and Interventional Cardiology at the University Clinical Hospital of Valladolid.

Martínez Fernández pointed out that Dr. López, head of the institute’s Cardiology and Hemodynamics service, has been trained in Barcelona hospitals on several occasions to perform this procedure. The presence here of Spanish teachers today is also part of a continuous process of training and collaboration.

“The Cuban population is aging and there is a degeneration of the aortic valve as a result of this demographic phenomenon,” said the specialist who insisted on the advantages of the patient’s quality of life.

“Relatives and patients have given informed consent for this to be done with a high degree of gratitude, convinced that it is a developmental step for the better,” she added.

This is also the opinion of Professor Pedro Nodal, head of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Surgical Unit of the ICCC and Dr. Luis Leonel Martínez Clavel, anesthesiologist in charge of the new procedure.

“This is the first time we are going to do it here. We chose general anesthesia as a protocol because it is the safest way for the patient and also for us to be able to provide that security. Despite the fact that other techniques are performed in the world, even with local anesthesia and sedation, we cannot run before crawling”, explains Martínez Clavel.

Professor Nodal ratifies it, all the support in surgery, anesthesiology, perfusionists in charge of operating the extracorporeal circulation machine is guaranteed to assume any eventuality.

The Spanish doctor Ignacio Amat Santos, head of Hemodynamics and Interventional Cardiology at the University Clinical Hospital of Valladolid, expresses his satisfaction “for carrying out, together with my colleagues from the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, the first minimally invasive aortic prosthesis implant interventions, without the need to open patients, only aided by a small catheter”, he said.

He explained that these valves were developed in the early 2000s. “Some patients had complications from such a major procedure as opening the chest to change a heart valve. So an attempt was made to develop something less aggressive, that the patient tolerated better, that they could go home earlier, that they would recover faster. And the implantation of a valve inside a stent was developed that folds and is inserted through a very fine tube from the groin to the heart, and then inside the diseased valve and correct its malfunction, ”he pointed out.

Amat Santos pointed out that, although the initial experiences were complex, enough experience has already been acquired to generalize its use little by little in the population “and we are working on developing this technique in Havana.”

In Spain, he said, between 4,000 and 5,000 procedures are performed annually in various hospitals. Some countries like Germany or the United States have carried out many interventions of this type and already number in the hundreds of thousands.

But, he added, it was only two years ago that research showed that in patients at low risk for open surgery that option was better. “This means that we have to try to generalize it to all patients who need an intervention of this type in the heart,” he pointed out.

On the socialization of science and medical advances, the Spanish expert believed that it is fundamental, while the entire learning curve that has taken place over the last two decades, since this therapy began with the first patients, is shared. the most complex.

Added to this is the importance of professionals being trained and specialized, “because technology is essential but skill is something that must be learned,” he said, and highlighted the link that has been established with Cuba in this regard.

“I am convinced that the center will soon be performing these interventions almost routinely,” said the specialist.

The first step has already been taken, and two Cubans —one from Havana and the other from Mayabeque— are now evolving stable and satisfactorily, with the hope of returning to a full life a little closer.

(By: Lisandra Farinas Acosta/Cubadebate)

At the meeting, the Cuban head of government recalled his recent stay in the Indochinese nation, as part of his first tour of Asia as Prime Minister, which contributed to strengthening the historic ties of friendship and cooperation between the two peoples, and allowed identify new trade opportunities.

Marrero Cruz highlighted the signing of fruitful agreements for the production of rice, coffee, corn and aquaculture, which will pay tribute to the island’s food sovereignty, while highlighting the possibilities of cooperation in the field of renewable energies.

For his part, Security General To Lam, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam, thanked the fraternal welcome and reaffirmed the willingness to collaborate in areas of mutual interest.

Likewise, he pondered the visit of the Cuban head of government to his country, which, in his opinion, ratified the relationship of brotherhood and solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba, and made it possible to open new routes of collaboration.

Also present at the meeting were the member of the Political Bureau and Minister of the Interior, Division General Lázaro A. Álvarez Casas; as well as the Vietnamese ambassador to Cuba, Le Thanh Tung, and other members of the visiting delegation.

Today Pinar del Río, Isla de la Juventud, Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana have suffered from the devastating passage of a hurricane, with Pinar being the most affected region.

I have not seen publications in support of the people who have now lost their homes, their property and more in just 6 hours. Nor have I seen the free concerts of those who coincidentally were next to the town on 11J. There have been exceptions: the renowned singer-songwriter Raúl Paz went to Pinar to sing to the people about him in the middle of the blackout, helped by a small power plant.

Another one who joined the aid work and concrete actions was Kcho together with his brigade, Marta Machado, also Raúl Torres, and many troubadours from various regions of the country. But even in other harsh recent events such as the fire at the Matanzas tanker base, for example, similar actions were carried out by the artist Michel Mirabal, the singer-songwriter Nelson Valdés Viera, theater projects for children, the AHS, troubadours from Santa Clara, Santiago and more.

But I’m still waiting for the mega free concerts and statements on networks from those who have been on the side of the people since such symbolic dates as 11J. It is worth wondering how within hours of that date they were already setting positions; however it has been more than a week of Ian and they still haven’t written or said anything.

Or is there a town for some things and not for others?

My respects in public for these great Cuban artists and for those who are now preparing to leave for Pinar del Río

(By: Oni Acosta Llerena)

Among the signatories of the petition are the Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, the Japanese nun Filo Hirota, members of the World Council of Churches, the Communion of Reformed Churches of Cuba, and Chris Ferguson, reverend of the Reformed University and pastor of the United Church of Canada.

The International Christian Service in Solidarity with the Peoples of Latin America, Oscar Arnulfo Romero, and the Rev. Whit Hutchison of the United States Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, also signed the petition.

“We want to make a prophetic request to the Government of the United States, on the occasion of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Colombia on Monday, October 3, to remove Cuba from the list of ‘state sponsors of terrorists,’” the signatories stated in a statement.

They also urge the Biden Administration to change its perspective, and life before aggression against the peoples.

“Cuba has already been a historical victim of blockades and inhuman sanctions that affect the lives of its inhabitants, many of them sisters and brothers in faith, particularly at times like the current one where Hurricane Ian has left victims in Cuba, as well as in Florida, with the difference that their resources are scarcer for the attention of the victims”, they declared.

The believers express their adherence to the recent call of the World Council of Churches that “Cuba be removed from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, and that the churches be accompanied as prophetic voices of peace, hope, cooperation and mutual respect”.

Likewise, they support the call of Pope Francis in his speech at the meeting of Popular Movements in October 2021: “I want to ask the powerful countries in the name of God to cease aggression, blockades, unilateral sanctions against any country anywhere in the world. Earth. No to neo-colonialism”.

They also welcome in the petition the acknowledgment of gratitude that the government of Gustavo Petro made to Cuba on August 11 for hosting the peace processes between the insurgencies and the Colombian State for more than 40 years, and its rejection of being classified as “sponsor of terrorism”.

(With information from Prensa Latina)

Brigadier General Luis Antonio Pantoja, military and air attaché of the Mexican embassy in Havana, wished the country a speedy recovery and pointed out that after estimating the devastating consequences of Ian, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador decided to send aid.

He said that several institutions have established an air bridge for the arrival of resources to the affected areas.

“This great nation has experienced in this type of adversity, the contingency will be a battle that they will resolve satisfactorily,” he said.

Likewise, I have recognized the will of the Cuban people, their effort and dedication in such complex moments.

Pantoja referred to the flights of four planes of the Mexican Air Force, uninterruptedly for four hours. In addition, he provides other itineraries with trained personnel.

The military and air attache of the Mexican embassy in Havana said that “for those of us who wear the military uniform there are missions that give us special satisfaction, today I feel grateful to be part of this history, written jointly between our countries, with a bridge of brotherhood and solidarity, built in a solid and constant way”.

For his part, the Mexican ambassador to the island, Miguel Díaz Reynoso, asserted that the arrival of this plane, with a load of pole-type insulators, ends a first stage of aid.

He declared that the last days showed cooperation, solidarity, friendship and hope. He also announced the upcoming arrival of Mexican doctors to study specialties in Cuba.

(With information from Prensa Latina)

The two ships transport 400,000 food modules, fifty electrical transformers, conducting cables, and more than 22,000 square meters of zinc sheets.

The captain of the Carmita, Jorge Coello Valladares, told Granma that the trip to Cuba will last six and a half days.

(With information from Granma)

The ambassador of the Aztec nation on the island, Miguel Díaz Reynoso, and local authorities, received the solidarity charge that will contribute to the recovery in the western region.

Recently, the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, announced the sending of aid in the face of the effects caused by Ian and recognized that this determines the continuity of the exchange between the two countries, constantly in recent years.

During his morning conference at the National Palace, the president conveyed “a hug to all the Cubans on the island and I hope they come out well because the hurricane hit them and affected their electrical power system, I’m sure they will come out ahead.”

This new contribution ratifies the policy of support for Cuba maintained by López Obrador, who also supplied medicines and food in 2021 during the covid-19 pandemic and assisted with the Armed Forces and technicians from Petróleos Mexicanos in controlling the fire in Matanzas.

For its part, Cuba agreed with the Ministry of Health the arrival of around 500 doctors, in order to make up for the shortage of specialists and provided nine million doses of its Abdala vaccine, intended for children, and its Sovereign formula is in approval process.

According to official data, the greatest damage reported in the western towns affected by Ian is in homes, electricity networks and agriculture.

(With information from Prensa Latina)

Through the Twitter account of the Presidency, it was indicated that the president thanked the Italian friends for the meeting and listened to proposals and concerns regarding foreign investment.

“In the midst of these difficult circumstances, that you come says a lot about your commitment and understanding with Cuba,” he said.

The representatives of the European country expressed the importance of the friendship between both countries and the will to help.

“We did not come to criticize, but to find solutions,” they declared before the highest leadership of the Antillean nation.

Also present at the meeting were Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister of Cuba, and Alejandro Gil Fernández, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Planning.

Marrero Cruz confirmed to the Italians that updating the country’s economic and social strategy includes foreign participation, with which Cuba is open to hearing proposals.

Relations between the two nations have been strengthened in recent times, as demonstrated by the meeting between Díaz-Canel and Marcos Papacci, president of the National Italy-Cuba Friendship Association (ANAIC), on August 21.

At that time, the Cuban head of state thanked the largest of the Antilles for its support in confronting the demonstrations against Cuba, when the events of the Hotel Saratoga and the help received during the tragedy of the fire in Matanzas.

(With information from ACN)

Cuba and Vietnam have all the factors and conditions to further strengthen their fraternal ties of brotherhood, the island’s ambassador, Orlando Hernández Guillén, affirmed this Saturday in Hanoi.

“The spirit of independence, resilience, equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation for the cause of the revolution of each country and as a contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development, are bases on which to support the strengthening of bilateral ties. “, he pointed.

Speaking at the VI Congress of delegates for the 2022-2027 mandate of the capital branch of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, the head of the diplomatic mission emphasized that the special relations between the two nations have been characterized by fraternity, multifaceted cooperation, solidarity and fidelity.

These ties, he stressed, were forged in the glorious history of the struggle for national independence and reinforced during the revolutionary path undertaken by both.

Hernández Guillén reviewed the trajectory traveled since 1965 by the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, as well as the main milestones in bilateral ties, among which he highlighted the visit made in 1973 by the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, first and the only head of state who traveled to this country in the middle of the war.

He pointed out that this year marks the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and urged to keep alive and deepen the spirit of brotherhood and special friendship forged by Fidel Castro and President Ho Chi Minh.

He also expressed infinite gratitude for the countless expressions of support and solidarity received after the incident at the Matanzas supertanker base and recalled that there are many difficult times that Cuba has gone through and has always been extended, to offer all its support. , the hand of Vietnam.

(With information from Prensa Latina)

The Cuban president expressed that “under ruthless media harassment, she is once again facing a politically motivated judicial process. Receive from Cuba all our solidarity, dear Cristina. You will overcome the challenge as you have overcome others before. With truth and reason.”

After an appeal filed by former President Mauricio Macri (2015-2019), the Federal Oral Court 2 initiated a trial against Fernández for alleged violations in the award of 51 public works in the province of Santa Cruz between 2003 and 2015.

On multiple occasions, the also head of the Senate denounced being the victim of an unprecedented stalking and recalled that the court of that territory dismissed the case for non-existence of crime.

The day before, during the ninth and last accusatory hearing of what is known as the Road Cause, prosecutor Diego Luciani requested a 12-year prison sentence for the former head of state and her perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The former president denounced the lack of evidence and the violations committed in the process, for which she requested to expand her investigative statement, but the Federal Oral Court 2 rejected her request.

(With information from Prensa Latina)