51-Year-Old Makes Remarkable Recovery With Hybrid TEVAR Surgery After Life-Threatening Torn Aorta

Doctors in Kolkata saved the life of a 51-year-old man whose aorta – the main blood vessel- had developed an aneurysm in the distal arch with a tear. Also known as aortic dissection, the condition is a life-threatening medical emergency where the tear occurs in the inner layer of the aorta, with blood surging through it and forcing the inner and middle layers to separate and create a false channel for blood flow. If not treated well in time, it can cause aortic rupture or a lack of blood flow to vital organs. “His tear had expanded it to more than 7 cm, which is nearly triple the normal size. This condition is extremely dangerous because the walls of the vessel get split along the entire length and can rupture suddenly. In most cases, this proves

fatal,” Dr. Lalit Kapoor, Senior Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, RN Tagore Hospital, told Times Now. According to Dr Kapoor, by the time the patient visited the hospital, he had already started showing unusual symptoms like swelling in the neck and blood in the urine, which reflected how critical his condition had become. “Immediate surgery was the only option to save his life,” he said.

How was the surgery done?

Dr Kapoor said the team carried out a rare hybrid procedure – a combined open surgery with advanced endovascular technique. “In the first stage, we rerouted the blood vessels of the head and arms using a special graft to ensure a continuous blood supply to the brain and upper body. In the second stage, we performed Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) by placing three large stent grafts inside the aorta via his femoral artery,” he said. These stents reinforced the weakened portion of the artery from the inside and completely sealed off the torn and ballooned section. Dr Kapoor said the surgery was complex and rare. “Such procedures are not commonly performed and require precise planning and close coordination between the surgical and interventional teams. Very few centres in India have the capability to execute these kinds of hybrid aortic repairs. Completing this operation demonstrates how far we have come in managing complex aortic conditions,” he said.

The patient has made a remarkable recovery

According to the doctors, the patient has made a quick and remarkable recovery. Within three days, he was able to walk and even climb stairs, and by the fifth day, he was stable enough to be discharged from the hospital. In the follow-up scans, it has been confirmed that the torn portion of the aorta has been fully sealed and there is no leakage. Also, the blood flow to all organs is normal.

What are the advantages of hybrid TEVAR surgery?

As compared to traditional open-heart total arch replacement, the hybrid TEVAR approach is less invasive. It also helps avoid the need for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (cooling the body and stopping circulation during surgery) and prolonged use of the heart-lung machine. It has a shorter operative time, causes a lower risk of stroke and bleeding, and makes the patient recover faster.