Timely surgery brings driver back to life

The sharp pain hit Nazir Gul suddenly. Travelling from his left arm and constricting his chest, the 57-year-old Pakistani driver passed out from the massive heart attack that could have claimed his life had he not been operated upon immediately.

The surgery performed on Gul in Al Qasimi Hospital was rare, according to Dr Santhosh Mathew, Head of Cardiac Surgery at the Sharjah hospital. “Nazir developed a massive heart attack for which he was admitted to Dubai’s Al Baraha Hospital in cardiogenic shock, a condition in which the heart is damaged so much that it is unable to supply blood to the body organs,” explained Dr Mathew.

“As his condition was deteriorating, he was shifted to Al Qasimi Hospital where he was investigated by the cardiologists and was found to have complete blockage in two of his main coronary arteries supplying blood to his heart muscle, causing the heart attack,” he said.

Due to the heart attack, the wall between the two pumping chambers of Gul’s heart was found to have ruptured causing mixing of pure and impure blood and causing severe heart failure.

“This heart condition can result in 100 per cent mortality if not surgically corrected urgently,” added Dr Mathew. Gul was immediately placed on a heart supporting machine called IABP. The block in the coronary arteries was successfully opened by stent placement by Dr Arif Al Nooryani, Head of Cardiology and CEO of Al Qasimi Hospital, followed by an emergency open heart surgery by Dr Mathew and his team.

The five-hour operation opened both the right and left ventricles of Gul’s heart while the ruptured septum was reinforced with a synthetic cloth like material patch. Following the surgery, Gul’s condition has improved and he has been discharged from hospital.

“He has completely recovered and is walking now,” said Dr Mathew, adding that this kind of operation has very high operative mortality rate of between 30-40 per cent even in the best centres. The surgeon has advised people to eat healthily and exercise regularly for a strong heart.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com