Margaret Dyer, 82, returned home to husband Ken on Saturday following a core-valve procedure at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne last Monday. 

Mr Dyer, who had the same procedure four years ago, may have saved his wife’s life after recommending she undergo a check-up. 

“I was told Margaret had the ‘Rolls Royce’ operation, I’m not sure if I had the ‘Ford’ operation,” the 85-year-old said. 

“It was the first time that a husband and wife have had the same operation, using the same surgical team. 

“When I had the surgery it reinvigorated me within a few weeks.”

The trial procedure removes the need for open heart surgery. 

The heart is accessed by inserting a catheter into an artery in the groin.

That is then expanded in the heart valve to widen arteries.

Mrs Dyer said she had noticed changes almost immediately after her surgery.

“I’m feeling extraordinarily well,” she said.

“One of the things I noticed — I just looked at it and couldn’t believe it — was that my nails were pink.

“My blood supply had been poor and I always had dull white nails.

“It’s quite a big change in many respects.”

Both Ken and Margaret had been forced to slow down, but have been given a new lease on life.

Mrs Dyer had been forced to give up playing lawn bowls and walking the couple’s dog, Maddy.

She now hopes to ease her way back into physical activity.

“It’s worked out really well,” she said.

“It was a great operation and I really am particularly thankful that I was able to have it.

“I knew I’d be different straight away.

“There’s an intimacy that comes with people when they hold your life in their hands.

“It’s quite a bonding situation.”

Mr Dyer is equally happy with the staff.

About 800 core-valve procedures have been performed in Australia.

The technology was granted approval in the US earlier this year but does not yet have Therapeutic Goods Administration approval in Australia.