Chennai doctors save patient suffering from aneurysm leak

CHENNAI: Doctors at the Government General Hospital have managed to save a patient who suffered an aneurysm leak on March 23.
Mani, 55, a farmer from Gummidipoondi, got himself admitted to the GH in the third week of March. He had not been able to swallow food for two months before that. A two-day examination revealed an aneurysm, a condition where a part of the artery sees a ballooning effect due to weakening of the walls, in his thoracobadominal (between chest and abdomen) aorta.The aneurysm had begun compressing esophagus, not allowing food to go through.
On March 23 afternoon, Mani suddenly began vomiting blood and doctors suspected the aneurysm had begun to leak. “The rupture of the aneurysm sent blood into the esophagus,” said dean Dr Kannagasabai. Luckily, the cardiothoracic unit was present in full capacity and the patient was rushed to the operation theatre. He underwent a six-hour long surgery where a graft was placed in the ruptured part of the artery.
Doctors say that had the condition developed in the patient’s house or even in the evening saving his life would not have been possible. “The hole could have lead to a large tear and rupture which would have killed him in seconds. The heart pumps blood at a pressure of 150 every 70-80 seconds, which would have led to him bleeding out,” said Dr Nagarajan.
The GH which sees 10,000 patients a day and has managed to see just six cases of thoracic aneurysms. “Aneurysm cases are common and are operated once they are detected. A leak being operated is rare,” said Dr Raja Venkatesh, head, department of cardiothoracic surgery.
Doctors said such a surgery in private hospital would have cost Rs 4 lakh, but Mani got it done free under the Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.