Media release
Mangaluru, Jun 21: A 30 year old woman from Belthangady, with history of recurrent strokes was referred to Dr R Purushotham, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist for cardiac evaluation. On further evaluation at A J Hospital & Research Centre, she was diagnosed to have a hole in the heart (PFO), which results in intermittent mixing of arterial (pure) and venous (impure) blood. This clinical situation is also known to cause propagation of blood clots to the brain (paradoxical embolism), occasionally.
She was subjected to a series of non-invasive tests and the intermittent mixing of pure and impure blood was documented by means of Transesophageal and Contrast Echocardiography. She underwent successful closure of hole in the heart by an Amplatzer device (PFO device closure). This procedure was successfully done by a team of Doctors from A J Hospital & Research Centre, comprising of Dr R Purushotham, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Dr Prem Alva, Consultant Pediatric Interventional Cardiologist and Dr Gururaj Tantry, Consultant Cardiac Anaesthetist. The procedure lasted for 45 minutes and the patient was discharged on the next day of the procedure and is now on regular follow-up with Dr Rajesh Shetty, Consultant Neurologist.
PFO is a hole, which is present in the foetal stages of life to ensure adequate mixture of blood when the lungs are not fully developed. This hole is known to close spontaneously in more than 75% of people soon after birth. For most people with PFO, it is not a problem even though blood is leaking from right atrium to the left atrium. However, problems arise when the leaked blood from the right atrium contains blood clots and they escape into the blood stream. These blood clots can cause obstruction to the blood flow, commonly to the brain, causing stroke / TIA and migraine occasionally.
PFO Device Closure, performed successfully at A J Hospital & Research Centre is a relatively rare interventional cardiac procedure and it also happens to be the first of its kind in this region. A J Hospital & Research Centre has many such firsts to its credit and this rare procedure adds another feather in its cap.