Man kept Alive On Ventricular Assist Device As Doctors Repair Valves
New Delhi: for four days, Ravinder Kumar (52) lived without a heart, literally. In order to repair a serious defect in his valves, doctors had to replace the organ – which was too weak to even pump blood – with an artificial device.
Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), a machine which mimics the heat’s functions, offers a ray of hope to thousands of patients whose hearts are too weak to survive a life – saving surgery and those waiting for heart transplant, say doctors. In waster countries like the US, research is on to develop the miniature version of the machine into a mechanical circulatory support device which can permanently replace the natural heart.
“The heart and lung machine which is commonly used to support organs during cardiac surgeries, also works on the same principle but it can only function for four to six hours. Also, prolonged use can cause severe side –effects which may eventually lead to death due to heavy bleeding. On the other hand, LVADs can pump blood for doctor to correct the heart defect,” said Dr Sujoy Shad, senior consultant cardiac surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital who conducted the successful surgery.
He said that Kumar was brought to the hospital in a state of shock because of severe choking in the main valve of his heart an leakage in another valve. His heart had lost its pumping power
“Despite powerful medications, his blood pressure hovered at 70-80 mm Hg. His heart was working at only 15% of its normal capacity. He may not have survived for more than a week if it wasn’t for the surgery. The leaking valve was repaired and the aortic valve which had constricted to the size of a pinhole causing restriction in flow of blood was replaced D Sanjiv Dhawan, senior consultant cardiologist at the hospital.
Doctors said that in Kumar’s case LVAD was used for five days to perform the heart’s functions like ensuring optimum supply of blood to other organs.
“The patient can breathe now; he is also able to walk and talk. He will be discharged soon,” said Dr D S Rana, chairman, sir Ganga Ram Hospital . He added that not all heart failure patients need to undergo a transplant as doctors can repair the damage with the help of new age techniques.
Kumar’s son Vikrant Kumar, who was ecstatic with the outcome of the surgery, said, “We tried to sell the house to pay for the money for us, “he said.
Dr Ashok Seth, chairman of cardiovascular sciences at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute was among the first doctors to use LVAD for treating heart failure patients in India. He implanted the derive in an 82- year-old patient suffering from blockage in three arteries in 2007.
Doctors at AIMS have also conducted similar procedures. “We have operated seven patients using LVA. One patient recently underwent a transplant also, “said Dr A K Bisoi, senior cardiac surgeon.
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Durgesh. jha @ times group . com TIMES CITY JULY1,2012
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