Srinagar, May 20: In a major advancement in surgical care in Jammu and Kashmir, Ahmad Hospital has successfully carried out a highly complex vascular surgery on a critically ill patient from Anantnag suffering from multiple life-threatening cardiovascular conditions.
The patient was diagnosed with Type-B Aortic Dissection, chronic kidney disease requiring hemodialysis, anemia of chronic disease and post-ischemic arm amputation. He was admitted with a chronically leaking large aneurysm involving the right distal subclavian and axillary arteries, major blood vessels supplying the neck, chest wall and arm.
Doctors said the patient had already lost more than a litre of blood into the chest wall, armpit and shoulder region. Advanced CT angiographies further revealed dangerously dilated arteries along with a dissection flap in the common carotid artery supplying blood to the brain, making the surgery extremely risky.
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon Dr M Y Khan said such vascular conditions carry mortality risks exceeding 90 percent if not managed with precise planning and execution.
He said the surgical team spent a week preparing the management strategy, including detailed sketches, procedural mapping and even a hypothetical drill a day before surgery. The operation was jointly performed by Dr Khan and Dr Syed Abdul Wahid.
The surgery involved securing vascular control close to the heart, removal of diseased and ruptured arterial segments, evacuation of massive hematoma and restoration of blood supply to the arm. Due to the patient’s financial constraints and non-availability of imported artificial grafts, surgeons improvised by rerouting adjacent arteries to restore circulation.
Doctors said the surgery was completed successfully without requiring any blood transfusion. The patient remained awake during the procedure under regional anesthesia and was discharged after two days. He is presently recovering well.
Dr Khan said the surgery cost the patient around Rs 60,000, compared to more than Rs 3 lakh in hospitals outside Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the procedure was prioritised on humanitarian grounds rather than monetary considerations.
Hospital authorities said Ahmad Hospital’s vascular surgery unit remains the only centre in Jammu and Kashmir, besides Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, offering advanced vascular surgical procedures in the Union Territory.
