HEART specialists at one of the region's largest hospitals have been awarded £1.6m to carry out clinical trials on a procedure which could revolutionise cardiac surgery across the world.

The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough is carrying out the largest study of its kind in the world, comparing highly-invasive open heart surgery with a new keyhole technique.

They will test the highly-invasive sternotomy procedure, in which the breast bone, or sternum, is prised open, with keyhole surgery.

If successful the research could benefit thousands of patients worldwide, who suffer from "leaky" heart valves which can lead to heart failure, requiring open heart surgery when it can no longer be managed by medication.

The research will see half of patients endure a conventional sternotomy – a large, vertical incision which opens up the sternum or chest bone, to give the surgeon access to make the heart valve repair.

The remaining 50 per cent will instead be treated with a “minimally invasive” keyhole technique in the right hand side of the rib cage below the breast area, which it is hoped will deliver the same treatment results but with potentially fewer risks and possible quicker recovery times.

Mr Enoch Akowuah, chief investigator for the study and consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, explained the research would involve 400 patients across a number of hospital sites – 200 of whom will undergo a minimally invasive right “minithoracotomy” - a smaller incision in the right side of the chest below the breast area.

He said James Cook had already been using the technique but the trial would follow participating patients in detail for more than four years after the surgery, to see whether there was a difference in patients' recovery and health.

“It will also determine whether the minimally invasive technique has cost benefits, which could result in significant savings for the NHS," he said.

The UK Mini Mitral trial is being run by the Durham University Clinical Trials Unit, including academics from Newcastle University, with Mr Akowuah as the chief investigator.

The study is keen to recruit patients across the region, from Berwick to Harrogate and Scarborough to Carlisle.

Kevin Johnson, 70, of Billingham, is already recovering from the keyhole surgery option, following recent diagnosis of a blocked heart valve.

He said: “Once I’d read all the information about the trial and I went through everything with the specialist, I didn’t have any reservations about having keyhole surgery – the alternative was breaking my ribs which didn’t really appeal to me.

“I’m also flying to Australia next year so I'm hoping this procedure will help me recover quicker.”