Doctors at SLG Hospitals perform a ‘12-hours’ long rare surgery to save life of a 48-yr-old man

• This marathon surgery helped revive life of a man suffering from low pulse due to chronic heart failure condition for past three years

Hyderabad, September 16th, 2021: Doctors at SLG Hospitals, one of the leading healthcare facilities in the city performed a 12-hours-long marathon surgery to save the life of a 48-year-old man suffering from chronic heart failure condition for nearly three years. Known as “Takayasu’s Arteritis”, this condition is usually found among young women, but at one in 10 cases, this condition is a rare ailment in men.

Mr. B. Venkatesham, a native of Siddipet district, got admitted to SLG Hospitals on August 14th. He approached many doctors over the past three years; but did not get complete cure to the problem. Takayasu’s arteritis is a form of vasculitis in which large- and medium-sized vessels are inflamed and damaged. Corticosteroids are the first line of treatment for vasculitis, but they are not wholly effective for every patient.

Commenting on the procedure, Dr. Vivek Babu Bojjawar, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, SLG Hospitals said, “When admitted to the intensive care unit at the hospital, the patient was suffering from uncontrolled hypertension. CT scan revealed that a portion of his aorta got damaged completely and grafting had to be done to rectify the complication. Considering the complexity of the procedure, the patient’s body had to be cooled down to 18 degrees, and blood flow in the body had to be stabilized (slowed down).”

“Post procedure, the patient was kept under observation for a week, and was discharged on August 26th. Considering the patient’s fragile condition in the past, and complexity of the procedure performed, the patient was required to return for health checkups and doctors’ consultation. Its more than a fortnight since he was discharged, and now health of Mr. Venkatesham has improved and he is capable to return to his work and daily routine,” added Dr. Vivek Babu bojjawar. Also involved in the treatment process were Dr. Bhanu Kiran Reddy (Consultant Cardiologist), Dr. Suhasini Tirumala (Head of Intensive Care Unit), and Dr. Amar (Consultant Cardiac Anesthetist).

Takayasu's arteritis is an uncommon condition in which inflammation damages large and medium-sized arteries. The arteries most affected are the branches of the aorta (the main blood vessel that leaves the heart), including the blood vessels that supply blood to the arms and travel through the neck to provide blood to the brain. Inflammation of large blood vessels may cause segments of the vessels to weaken and stretch, resulting in an aneurysm (bulging blood vessel). Vessels also can become narrowed or even completely blocked (called an occlusion).