Mangalore: A J Hospital Docs Perform Rare Cardio-thoracic Surgery

Pics: Daya Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VA)

Mangalore, Jul 20:  The doctors of A J Hospital, here have successfully performed a cardiac surgery, which is a first-of-its kind in the region.

Jayaram (72), resident of Bantwal was suffering from severe breathlessness, chest pain requiring oxygen for the last two months.  He consulted several doctors in and around the city and was later referred to Dr Vishnu Sharma, pulmonologist, A J Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr Purushotham, consultant cardiologist, A J Hospital & Research Centre. 

Dr Purushotam did a CT Angiogram, which revealed severe ‘pulmonary embolism’ (blockage of artery supplying blood to lungs).  Keeping in mind patient’s age and treatment modalities available to the condition, ‘pulmonay thromboendartectomy’, a surgery with 85% risk was considered after explaining the same to patient’s relatives.

Surgery was carried out successfully by Cardio-thoracic team headed by Dr Jayashankar Marla, consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon, Dr Gururaj Thantri, consultant cardiac anaesthetist, Dr Naganand, cardiac anesthetist, Jagadish Patil, Anil Nair and Pavana Shetty.

As per the available records, a total of 3500 surgeries have been carried out successfully for this condition worldwide.   This is the first successful surgery done in this region.  This surgery carried high risk as patient is cooled to 18ºC and blood circulation is completely stopped – a process called “Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest”.  Once the blockage was removed, patient re-warmed to normal temperature and blood circulation resumed.  Patient was carefully monitored in ITU with mechanical elective ventilation for three days and later shifted to ward without oxygen support and now devoid of all symptoms.