Amman: The 6th Jordanian Heart Valve Conference commenced on Thursday, serving as a significant scientific platform for cardiologists and interventional specialists from Jordan and beyond to discuss the latest advancements in valve disease management.
According to Jordan News Agency, the two-day event, organized by the Cardiovascular Academic Group of the Jordanian Cardiac Society and the Jordan Medical Association, is accredited by the Jordan Medical Council. It features 12 scientific sessions, over 40 presentations, and live case transmissions from prominent centers in the United States and Europe.
Health Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Bdour, during the opening of the conference, highlighted Jordan's focus on advanced cardiovascular care as part of its broader health strategy. He pointed out the global rise in heart disease driven by chronic risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and vascular disease, stressing the importance of prevention, early detection, and interventional innovation.
Over the last 15 years, Jordan has become a pioneer in the region for catheter-based valve interventions. The country achieved its first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in 2009, followed by its first transcatheter mitral valve replacement in 2017, and the first mitral valve clipping in 2019. Recently, Jordanian specialists successfully performed a tricuspid valve clipping, enabling all four cardiac valves to be treated through percutaneous techniques.
Conference chair Dr. Imad Haddad, who is also the president of the Cardiovascular Academic Group, stated that Jordanian outcomes in these procedures match international standards, with success rates nearing 95 percent. He added, "Most patients are discharged within 24 hours, reflecting both procedural safety and rapid recovery."
Dr. Ayman Hamoudeh, the scientific committee chair, mentioned that the program covers contemporary valve disease therapies, with input from about 80 experts and professional societies, including the Palestinian Cardiac Society, the Saudi Interventional Cardiology Society, and the Iraqi Cardiac and Thoracic Society. Sessions will also include case-based discussions on rare and complex valve pathologies.
Dr. Issa Al-Khashashneh, president of the Jordan Medical Association, lauded the conference as a platform for enhancing clinical excellence and academic collaboration, while acknowledging the contributions of early generations of Jordanian cardiologists to the country's reputation in cardiovascular care.
In addition to the scientific program, an industry exhibition is displaying innovations in cardiac devices, pharmaceuticals, and surgical technologies.
Organizers emphasize that the conference underscores Jordan's emerging role as a regional center for advanced cardiovascular therapies and medical tourism, while supporting professional development for the country's future cardiologists.