By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 16 Sep: Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dehradun, recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully performing a high-risk heart procedure on a 61-year-old male patient, who had suffered a severe heart attack.
A team of doctors led by Dr Preeti Sharma, Director of the Department of Cardiology, used the world’s smallest heart pump, an Impella device, to help in his blood flow during a high-risk protected angioplasty performed on him.
The patient came to Max Hospital with severe chest pain, lung congestion and critically low blood pressure. Upon evaluation, the patient was found to have severe blockages in all three major coronary arteries, and his heart function was dangerously reduced to only 20%. His main artery was 100% blocked.
Given his critical condition and the presence of severe calcium deposits in his arteries, open-heart surgery was too risky. The doctors decided that angioplasty, a less invasive procedure to open blocked arteries, was the best option. However, due to the complexity and high risk associated with his case, the team opted to use an advanced heart pump device called Impella to support his heart during the procedure.
Impella is the world’s smallest heart pump, inserted through the groin artery and positioned inside the left ventricle of the heart. It takes over the heart’s pumping function, ensuring that oxygen-rich blood continues to flow to vital organs during high-risk procedures. This was crucial for the patient, as his heart’s pumping ability was severely compromised, and there was a significant risk of cardiac arrest during the angioplasty.
While in the hospital, he suffered a cardiac arrest during other diagnostic procedures in OT under general anesthesia and had to be revived with CPR. He required ventilator support for 72 hours in the ICU. Once his condition stabilised, the high- risk angioplasty was performed. The procedure involved breaking down the calcium deposits in the arteries using advanced techniques like Rotablation and shock wave lithotripsy before placing stents to restore blood flow.
The Impella device played a critical role in the success of this procedure. Although the procedure was completed, patient’s heart was not strong enough to function independently at the end, and he began experiencing severe breathing difficulties. As a result, the Impella pump was kept in place for two additional days while the patient was closely monitored in the Cardiac Care ICU. Once his heart function improved, the device was safely removed, and he was discharged two days later.
Dr Preeti Sharma, Director of the Department of Cardiology, who led the procedure, stated, “This case underscores the critical importance of advanced technologies like Impella in managing high-risk cardiac patients. Without the support of Impella, this procedure would not have been possible. It not only allowed us to perform a complex angioplasty safely but also significantly improved the patient’s recovery and outcome.”
One month after the procedure, patient’s heart function has significantly improved, and he is now leading an active life, walking 12,000 to 15,000 steps a day.
