Doctors say that the hospital was the first government hospital in the state to perform this surgery
Director of Medical Education Dr S. Geethalakshmi examining the x-ray of the 75-year-old V. Veerappan, who underwent stenting operation for ballooning of the abdominal aorta, on Wednesday. -DC
Chennai: The department of vascular and endovascular sciences at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital has performed a minimally invasive surgery on a 75-year-old man who suffered from Aortic Aneurysm, a condition of ballooning or weakening of the abdominal aorta wall. Doctors say that the hospital was the first government hospital in the state to perform this surgery.
HoD of the department Dr S Jeyakumar says, “V. Veerappan from Mannargudi had severe back and abdominal pain when he came to the hospital.The aorta wall measured 8.5 cm in diameter as opposed to a normal 2 cm.” The weakening or ballooning of the aorta wall occurs with age or due to smoking or lipid or cholesterol accumulation.
Open surgery could not be performed on Veerappan due to his age. A small incision was made in the groin and a stent placed in the affected area, a procedure called Endovascular Aneurysm Repair, which was done on November 13. It was a method that enabled the patient to eat the same evening and return to normal physical activity soon, Dr Jeyakumar says, it providing an immediate solution to the problem.
Dr N. Shekar, former president of the Vascular Society of India, points out that while it suits the elderly, the stent, being fixed with hooks, can move at anytime and there are chances of 15 to 20 per cent of patients requiring some intervention in three or four years’ time. Also, it costs Rs7 to 8 lakhs to execute in private hospitals.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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