35-kg woman operated for valve replacement & bypass surgery

A city-based woman, weighing just about 35 kgs and suffering from a weak heart, was successfully operated for a valve replacement and bypass surgery at a hospital here.
Thoracic surgeon and vice-chairman of Asian Heart Institute Ramakanta Panda described the surgery on the 68-year-old Asha Phatak as one of the most "challenging" surgeries.
"Phatak who initially weighed 60 kgs, lost 25 kgs in the last one-and-half year due to her heart condition," said Panda.
"When Phatak was rushed to the institute, she was in a critical condition and had suffered a congestive heart failure. (Heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to support other organs in your body). She also had fluid in her lungs and low blood pressure," Panda said.

He said Phatak was in the ICU for 19-days before the surgery and that the patient's heart pumping was very weak (only 20-25 per cent pumping function).
The operation was performed in December 2016.

She had two major heart blockages (on Left Anterior Descending Artery and Ramus Intermedius) and narrowing of a heart valve for which she needed to undergo both bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement, he said.
"Besides, she was extremely fragile and weighed only 35 kgs at the time of operation. All these factors brought together made this a highly complex and risky operation," said Panda.
He added, Phatak's positive attitude towards life contributed immensely in her speedy recovery.

"I had refused the patient initially fearing that her heart won't be able to tolerate the stress of the surgery and she would either die on the operation table or after the surgery. However, her courage and willpower helped her recover after this major operation," the doctor said.
In a 10-hour long surgery, doctors performed part of her bypass surgery (2 grafts, LAD , Ramus intermedius) with the beating heart technique and part with the help of a heart lung machine.
After the bypass surgery, her heart was stopped to replace the narrowed valve with the new one.
Phatak said, "At first Dr Panda was not ready to perform operation. Then when I said I am ready, he took up the challenge immediately, despite the 90 per cent risk, which I was not aware of."

Panda said that she was immediately shifted to the ICU after the surgery and put on ventilator support and was under intensive care for two months, till the time of her discharge in January.