D Elango from Kancheepuram had a medical case history that was long and eventful. When Elango arrived at Global Health City, he was not sure of the mysterious neurological illness that had severely altered his way of life.
Elango underwent treatment in many private hospitals in Chennai and he was diagnosed with blood clots inside the ventricles. He underwent surgery to evacuate the clot.
Though he regained consciousness, he was demented and unable to walk as the disorder was undeterred.
Following several unsuccessful attempts to alleviate the disorder at various city hospitals, the family decided to shift Elango to Global Health City.
Dr K Sridhar, director, Institute of Neuro Sciences and Spinal Disorders, said “Patient underwent a Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) that revealed abnormal communication between arteries and veins of the brain. In scientific terms, a Pial AV fistula, involving brain vessels. Pial AV fistulas are vascular malformations for which prompt diagnosis with a subsequent appropriate therapeutic approach is crucial to avoid the development of irreversible neurological damage or even patient death because these lesions can be associated with heavy bleeding and high mortality rates.”
The neuro surgical team headed by Dr K Sridhar and Dr Joy Varghese, senior consultant endovascular neurosurgeon decided to perform an embolisation procedure to block the abnormal arteriovenous communications in his brain.
Dr Varghese said, “Depending on their location and high flow dynamics, these lesions can present treatment challenges for both endovascular and open cerebrovascular surgeons. Unfortunately, in his case there was an extreme high flow through the fistulous communication through multiple arteries, which otherwise are normal arteries to the brain. Also, its position was close to important structures of the brain, including the brainstem and limbic system. This made the procedure extremely challenging.” However, a five-hour surgery, each in two separate stages, was successful.
Elango has now got a new life. His wife P Jayakumari said with tears of joy, “He is able to walk, and is able to recollect events. I can’t ask for more.”
