Rare cardiac surgery performed

Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr A K Rafeeq had a rare surgery to perform on Monday when a 14-year-old boy was admitted to Little Flower Hospital here with severe chest discomfort.

Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr A K Rafeeq had a rare surgery to perform on Monday when a 14-year-old boy was admitted to Little Flower Hospital here with severe chest discomfort.

Although, a heart attack was not suspected intially, the casualty department recommended   an echocardiogram.

According to the cardiologists, the coronary arteries of the patient were unusually  dilated.

An angiogram was also prescribed and Dr Rafeeq, who took over the case from the  cardiologists, found out that there was a massive dilation of the artery. The phenomenon is rare, and is also referred to as ‘giant aneurysm’.

Dr Rafeeq said that this is an unusual case of heart attack, and is hardly found among  children.

In this special giant aneurysm case, the 2.5 mm artery has been enlarged to 25 mm size, ten times that of the usual size.

Usually, heart attack is caused by blockage in arteries, but, in this case, the stagnant blood in the hollow region of the enlarged artery gets clotted, generating an attack. “The timely surgery saved the boy and he is  ready to go to school in a few days’ time,”  Dr Rafeeq said.

The team work of Dr Thusshar, Dr Benson and Dr Ajith, and the benevolent grace of God has made the surgery a success, he added.

Giant aneurysm is also known as Kawasaki disease.

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