Angioplasty performed on nonagenarian

PANCHKULA: In a rare case at a Panchkula hospital, angioplasty was performed on a 95-year-old woman, a resident of Sector 16, Panchkula. Doctors and hospital authorities had thrown up their hands in the case intitially, expressing inability in this regard.
Karam Kaur, 95, had suffered severe chest pain when she was wheeled into the hospital. “Usually, doctors don’t perform angioplasty on persons above 80 years age and were very reluctant.But the woman was in severe pain and we had to perform the high-risk operation soon,” said Dr Behl, who performed the angioplasty.
An angiography was conducted before the angioplasty, which revealed that her three arteries were nearly completely blocked. It was then the doctors went on to insert one stent in one of the arteries which was 99% blocked.
Kaur was admitted to the hospital a few days ago with acute chest pain. Though she was prescribed certain medicines in view of her advanced age, which provided her temporary relief, but the pain returned.
Now, after the angioplasty, the patient has not only survived but is also making rapid recovery.
“In fact, we had strongly opposed any interventional procedure on her, but family members of the patient were insistent that we perform angiography on her and, if required, also go for angioplasty,” added the doctor.
“It is great that my mother has survived and is recovering fast. The doctors and others were hesitant, saying that it is very risky to perform such an operation on a person of this age,” said daughter-in-law, Bhagvati Devi.