Kauvery Hospital performs Life-Saving Pulmonary Endarterectomy on 27-year-old African man suffering from pulmonary hypertension

Chennai: A 27-year-old man from Africa underwent iife-Saving Pulmonary Endarterectomy after his investigations revealed a serious condition known as Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) at Kauvery Hospital, Vadapalani.

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) - a condition characterised by elevated blood pressure in the lung arteries associated with blood clots originating from deep veins in the lower limbs or pelvis. These blood clots can dislodge and travel in the venous system to the lung arteries. When diagnosed early, this is typically treated with anticoagulation for up to six months.

If the blood clots are not absorbed they transform into scar tissue narrowing or blocking the arterial branches supplying both lungs. The risk of developing CTEPH is higher with delayed or under anticoagulation, with repeated episodes of pulmonary embolism, or in some patients with genetic susceptibility to form clots more readily. Once CTEPH is established, the mean life expectancy is less than three years.

With progressive deterioration in his medical condition, the pressure in his lung arteries was over fourfold from normal. At this level of pulmonary hypertension, the right side of the heart starts struggling to pump adequate blood into the lungs. In a remarkable turn of events, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Kumud Kumar Dhital, Director of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CVTS) Program at Kauvery Hospital Vadapalani, intervened to save the patient's life by offering the only curative therapy for this condition. The team included interventional cardiologists, radiologists, intensive care experts, surgeons, and pulmonologists, meticulously assessing the complex situation before getting on to a high-stakes surgical procedure. The procedure, called Pulmonary Endarterectomy involves general anaesthesia, placement on the heart-lung machine, cooling the body down to 20 degrees Celsius and then stopping all blood circulation in the body for brief periods of 20 minutes to surgically visualise and meticulously extract the chronic scar tissue from within the lung arteries.

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Following the procedure, the patient's pulmonary pressures were successfully reduced to within the normal range, marking a crucial milestone in their recovery journey. Despite the gravity of their condition, the patient's stay in the intensive care unit was minimal. Soon after, they were transferred to a regular ward, where their recovery progressed smoothly and without any complications.

A testament to the effectiveness of the intervention, the patient has already begun to experience a remarkable improvement in their symptoms and exercise capacity. This positive development sets the stage for the patient to enjoy a normal quality of life and prognosis in the foreseeable future.

This successful case not only highlights the exceptional skill and expertise of the medical team at Kauvery Hospital Vadapalani but also underscores their collaborative approach in addressing complex medical challenges. 

Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder and Executive Director of Kauvery Group of Hospitals, expressed his congratulations to Dr. Kumud Kumar Dhital and the entire medical team for their remarkable expertise and dedication. He also commended the patient for their journey from Africa to Kauvery Hospital, highlighting their trust in our institution's adherence to international clinical standards. Dr. Selvaraj reiterated the hospital's unwavering commitment to providing care that meets the highest international clinical standards, reports PTI.

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