Hyderabad : Hyderabad is hosting leading interventional cardiologists and structural heart specialists from all over the world for Hyderabad Valves 2026, the fourth edition of a biennial scientific meeting focused on modern, minimally invasive treatments for heart valve disease. The two-day conference began today at Park Hyatt, Hyderabad.
Led by Course Directors Dr. P. C. Rath and Dr. Manoj K. Agarwala of Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, the meeting brought together Indian and International experts for live case demonstrations, specialist lectures and interactive discussions on complex valve and structural heart interventions.
The conference features 26 live transcatheter cases from centres in India and overseas. The programme includes 11 live-case transmissions from leading international centres, including 4 from USA, 6 from Europe and six from Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills. Each demonstration provides an opportunity for specialists to discuss clinical decisions, procedural techniques and patient safety.
Speaking on the occasion Dr P C Rath, Sr. Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills & Course Director, Hyderabad Valves 2026; said, Structural intervention in cardiology has witnessed rapid growth over the past decade and holds immense potential for the future. Live case transmissions, interactions and discussions are invaluable in enhancing knowledge, skills and confidence, motivating practitioners to adopt and improve these procedures. Our vision is to promote structural interventions across India, encouraging every centre to embrace them. Importantly, the future lies in collaboration between interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons rather than competition. Such multidisciplinary teamwork will ultimately benefit patients by ensuring better treatment outcomes and more durable therapies.
It is focusing on aortic interventions, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR/TAVI), valve-in-valve procedures for selected patients with deteriorating prosthetic valves, and alternative vascular access techniques. It also throws light on Mitral and other complex structural heart interventions, including transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR), mitral and tricuspid edge-to-edge repair, and advanced techniques such as LAMPOON and BASILICA. The programme also features case discussions and expert panels.
Beyond its scientific importance, the meeting drew attention to changing treatment options for patients with aortic stenosis, mitral valve disorders and other structural heart conditions. For appropriately selected patients—particularly some older adults or those at increased surgical risk—catheter-based treatments can offer an alternative to open-heart valve surgery. The most suitable treatment, however, depends on individual clinical assessment by a specialist heart team.
The organisers’ message to the public stressed the importance of accessible, compassionate heart care and early diagnosis. Persistent breathlessness, chest discomfort, dizziness or unusual fatigue in elderly patients should not be ignored. Timely medical assessment, including echocardiography when advised, can help identify valve narrowing or leakage and guide treatment before the condition becomes more serious.
With Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, serving as the host centre for live procedures, Hyderabad Valves 2026 aims to strengthen knowledge-sharing between global experts and local heart teams while increasing awareness of the advanced structural heart treatment options now available in the city.
The meeting was inaugurated by Dr Sangeetha Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group; virtually as chief guest. The international faculty includes Dr Ramesh Daggubati, Professor of Cardiology, West Virginia University, USA, Dr Vijay S Iyer, Chief Cardiovascular Medicine, Buffalo medical centre, USA, Dr Gaurav Dhar, Chief of Structural Heart Disease, Rush University Medical Centre, USA and Dr. Peter Andrika, Director, Gottsegen National Cardiovascular Center, Budapest.
Dr Sangeetha Reddy speaking virtually said, In the earlier days, we used to say that cardiologists were becoming increasingly invasive, while cardiothoracic surgeons were moving towards minimally invasive procedures. Today, however, we are witnessing tremendous collaboration between the two specialities, with hybrid cath labs located alongside operating theatres, enabling both teams to work seamlessly together. This multidisciplinary approach is not just the way of the future; it is increasingly becoming the standard practice of today.
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