Dubai Hospital reconstructs heart of 29-yr-old
dubai — Doctors at Dubai Hospital successfully conducted a complicated open heart surgery on a 29-year-old patient who was admitted with a heart condition rarely found in younger patients.
He was suffering from impaired cardiac function associated with a giant dilated left ventricle aneurysm, generated during recurrent heart attacks.
Dr Faouzi Safadi, consultant in cardiothoracic surgery department, who led the team that did the surgery, said: “This young patient underwent a critical heart reconstruction surgery to repair and reshape the left ventricle that got damaged during a heart attack. Heart attacks in the left ventricle weaken the tissue wall which can form extensive scar tissue and consequently an aneurysm (a balloon-like bulge of a blood vessel) exposing the patient to serious life-threatening complications like rupture of the aneurysm, embolic stroke and irreversible enlarged rounded heart failure.”
The team was supported by anesthesia technicians and nursing staff and the operation was conducted using highly specialised technology such as a heart-lung machine.
Dr Tarek Abdel Aziz, consultant in cardiothoracic surgery department, said that during the left ventricular reconstruction surgery, the team had to make an incision to remove the damaged areas (thinned and scarred tissue).
“Our purpose is to restore and reshape the geometry of the heart, thus enabling it to be a more efficient pump. To conserve the appropriate elliptical shape ventricular cavity fit with a good heart function and to know how much scar tissue should be removed, a specific oval-shape balloon sizer is inserted and filled into the left ventricle in a way to regain the natural heart configuration.”
The team of anesthesiologists ensured the patient was smoothly taken off the heart-lung machine and stabilised him, so that the surgery could be completed in minimal time for patient safety and minimal drug support.
Dr Safadi has carried out multiple ingenious surgeries and many complicated, life-saving interventions over the past five years in Dubai. He has also been spearheading international efforts and interactions with pioneer centres in Europe to establish advanced, innovative Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery in Dubai Hospital with the collaboration of international cardiac surgeons.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com