Aortic Dissection at SIMS Hospital

SIMS Hospital arranged media conference with Dr V.V. Bashi, held on Dec 19th 2019. First in India, An Elderly Person Undergoes Complex Surgery for Acute Type-A & Type-B Aortic Dissection at SIMS Hospital, Chennai

For the first time in India, an elderly gentleman underwent successful surgery to correct multiple Aorta anomalies (Acute Type-A Dissection, Leakage in Aortic Valve and A Tear in the Distal End of Aorta) in a single-stage operation at the Aortic Aneurysm Centre, SIMS Hospital, Chennai.

For the first time in India, an elderly gentleman underwent successful surgery to correct multiple Aorta anomalies (Acute Type-A Dissection, Leakage in Aortic Valve and A Tear in the Distal End of Aorta) in a single-stage operation at the Aortic Aneurysm Centre, SIMS Hospital, Chennai.

Type-A dissection in the ascending aorta itself is a lethal condition that poses a challenge to cardiac surgeons. When this happens suddenly, the majority of patients do not survive unless surgery is performed in the first 48 hours. In addition, the treatment of the leaking aortic valve and the tear in the lower part of the descending aorta was a major challenge in this case. At present, in most centres, only the ascending aorta is corrected in such situations, leaving the other issues to be addressed after 1 or 2 years. Yet, at SIMS, the surgeons repaired all 3 different parts of the aorta in a single operation that lasted about 6 hours.

Case Details: A 65-year-old gentleman (name withheld) from Coimbatore was admitted to SIMS Hospital with serious chest pain in the back and abdomen. The discomfort was very severe one day before the patient came to SIMS for consultation. He was diagnosed with Acute Type A Aortic Dissection along with a leaking aortic valve and a tear at the lower end of the descending aorta. It was a life-threatening situation for the patient who needed emergency surgery. The patient then rushed in for surgery within half an hour, which is mandatory in such a situation.

Talking on the complexities of aortic disorders, Dr. V. V. Bashi – Director of the Institute of Cardiac & Aortic Disorders (ICAD) at SIMS said, “It is quite difficult to detect aortic conditions on a preventive basis, and it would be difficult to detect 3 conditions in one case unless an appropriate diagnostic approach is taken. Another obstacle for us was to carry out all the surgical corrections in one session, even on an emergency basis.

The patient underwent a successful total remedial replacement of the entire diseased aorta with the repair of the aortic valve as a single-stage operation and had an inadvertent recovery. He’s doing well and expecting a normal life.

Such complex cases are conducted only in a few elite medical institutions in the world because they require superior surgical expertise, the latest technology and the availability of advanced hybrid graft (Thoraflex Graft).

Explaining the complexity of surgery, Dr. Bashi said, “Multi-stage operations over the years leave the patient and family in a state of fear and anxiety due to the risk of temporary mortality.

SIMS Hospital recently launched the First Exclusive Center for Aortic Diseases in India to offer a focused approach to the diagnosis and management of Aortic Disorders. The Center aims to raise awareness of various aspects of the disorders, such as risk factors, innovative treatment methods, etc.

Expressing his joy at this excellent surgical feat, Shri. Ravi Pachamoothoo – Chairman of the SRM Group, said, “It has always been our intention to be at the forefront of healthcare innovation and excellence in India. And our heritage of being in the field of education gives us that edge to bring new ideas and technologies, to cultivate and mentor future clinical talents in order to achieve that aim. We are fortunate enough to have outstanding doctors like Dr. Bashi, who has his own legacy in the field of cardiothoracic surgery, particularly in the treatment of aortic disorders, to guide our young doctors into a bright future.

Approximately 3-4 lakh people in India suffer from various types of Aortic Disorders every year, of which only about 1,000 people are treated. If the illness can be diagnosed early, the majority of patients can be successfully treated with a success rate of more than 95%. Very few centers in our country conduct aortic surgery in large numbers. Dr. Bashi and his team performed more than 1,500 aortic procedures, one of the biggest in any country to reach international standards.