City hospital performs unique heart surgery

Zahir Hussain, a 57-year old businessman from Manali, was brought to the hospital with a heart attack that blocked the triple vessel coronary artery, a condition which is usually treated with a conventional bypass surgery - an intense procedure that needs a longer recovery time post-surgery. Krishnamurthy, 51, a government bus driver, had a similar condition as well. The doctors decided to use a minimally invasive technique - which has never been used in the country - rather than the traditional approach. 

The procedure allows the surgeon to work on a beating heart through a small chest incision between the ribs with the help of a high definition camera and monitor, without having to split the breastbone. It serves to help reduce the pain and results in a lesser need for postoperative pain medication. While the scars are smaller, the procedure also requires the patient to stay for a shorter period in the hospital. 

“The new technique lowers the risk of complications such as stroke, lung problems and kidney problems which are associated with the use of a heart-and-lung machine,” said Dr MM Yusuf, minimally invasive cardiac surgeon. 

As a stage-two approach, the patient underwent angiography and drug eluting stent insertion to the remaining two blockages in the coronary artery under specialised Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance. “The procedure alleviated all complications and the patient was discharged home on the fourth day after the procedure without any blood transfusion,” said Dr Damodharan, senior consultant cardiologist.