Israeli Doctors Perform World-First Emergency Heart Valve Repair on Transplant Patient

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, Israeli doctors at Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva performed the world’s first emergency mitral valve repair on a heart transplant recipient in cardiogenic shock saving the life of 47-year-old Simon Fischler in what doctors described as a last-chance procedure.

Fischler, who received a heart transplant at age 14, had long defied expectations. But two months ago, he was rushed to the hospital’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit in severe heart failure. His condition worsened rapidly as his transplanted heart began to fail, and his mitral valve started leaking dangerously.

“Simon presented to us in an urgent catastrophe,” said Prof. Leor Perl, head of the Catheterization Institute at Rabin Medical Center. “The myocardium had stopped working, the mitral valve was leaking severely, and he was crashing.”

Faced with no viable alternatives, the medical team including Dr. Amos Levy, Dr. Yaron Shapira, Dr. Ben Cohen, and Dr. Ben-Ben Avraham opted for a bold, minimally invasive procedure. They accessed Fischler’s heart through the femoral vein, carefully punctured the septum with a specialized needle, and repaired the valve all while his heart was still beating.

The results were immediate. Within hours, Fischler stabilized. By the next day, he was breathing unaided, and just two days later, he was discharged from the hospital.

“We’ve known Simon and his family for many years,” said Prof. Perl. “Seeing him recover so quickly was extraordinary.”

From his home in Kibbutz Elrom, Fischler expressed deep gratitude. “I’m very grateful to the team of doctors. I’ve been very lucky to have a heart that meshed with my body for as long as it has.”

Fischler’s survival not only represents a major leap in cardiac emergency care but also highlights the long-term success of Israel’s transplant program. According to the Israel Heart Society, around 180,000 Israelis suffer from heart failure, and 30 to 40 heart transplants are performed annually. Thanks to medical advances, many transplant recipients are now living decades longer than originally thought possible.

This case further cements Israel’s position as a leader in life-saving innovation, driven by compassion, courage, and cutting-edge science.

Israel continues to push the boundaries of what is possible saving lives and transforming the future of medicine. Share this story or subscribe to our newsletter for more breakthroughs from the heart of the Jewish state.