Kozhikode, September 7, 2017: A 71 year old lady underwent a life saving emergency surgery at MIMS Kozhikodelast week for a ruptured swelling in the wall of the abdominal aorta that carries blood from the heart (Abdominal Aortic Aneursym). This lead to severe bleeding in the abdominal cavity resulting in her going into shock. An emergency repair procedure to repair the rupture called as Emergency Endovascular Aneurysm repair was carried out which saved her life from this life threatening condition.
The lady from Valancheri in Malappuram district came to MIMS Kottakkal in shock with an acute abdomen. Her haemoglobin was extremely low and an emergency CT scan of the abdomen showed a ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with retroperitoneal bleed. She was immediately rescuscitated andtransferred to MIMS Kozhikode for emergency surgery.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common and potentially life threatening disease that affects 5–9% of the population over the age of 65 years. Most patients with AAA are asymptomatic unless they develop a complication. Rupture is the most feared complication and one of the most fatal surgical emergencies, if untreated it is almost always fatal. The procedure, Emergency Endovascular Aneurysm repair (EVAR) gives an early survival advantage.
Dr. Shafeeque Mattummal, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Aster MIMS Kozhikode who lead the surgical team said, If left untreated, ruptured AAA is almost always fatal. Patients with ruptured AAA need a specialist center for treatment. EVAR is today considered the treatment of choice for those suitable cases with ruptured AAA. EVAR is a less invasive alternative for treating ruptured AAA. The other option, open surgical repair has a mortality of around 50%, while EVAR has a mortality of around 20%.The procedure avoids prolonged general anaesthesia, reduces blood loss, and avoids the need for laparotomy in critically ill elderly patients and recovery is faster.
In the patient’s case, the emergency endovascular surgery was successful and the bleeding stopped. She had a quick recovery and is discharged in stable condition.
