–           Bentall procedure is a rare complex surgery performed on individuals whose aortic valve is ruptured thus affecting the pumping of oxygen and blood to heart.

–           2-3 per 10,000 people undergo the surgery globally every year

–           Proper diagnosis and timely treatment can save a life

Chennai: A 54 year old man, developed severe chest pain with breathlesness and got admitted at Thanjavur Medical college Hospital, where he underwent investigations which revealed Acute Type 1 Aortic dissection(Tearing of Aorta which is the main Blood vessel that takes the blood from Heart to Other parts of body), and with damage of Aortic Valve. Post diagnosis he was referred to SRM Medical College Hospital, Kattankulathur for further treatment.

The patient was recommended Bentall procedure – a surgical procedure where the Aortic Valve is replaced with an artifical aortic valve. A team of suregons from SRM Medical college succesfully performed this surgery and the patient was discharged post observation.

The procedure takes upto 10 to 12 hours and is complex to perform.  “In India, very few surgeons perform this procedure due to lack of expertise, infrastructure and failure in diagnosing the cause of the heart ailment. Lot of medical centres do not have the right infratructure and the expert team to perform the surgery. Also, hospitals do not diagnose the aortic rupture and they recommend the usual surgery post which it turns fatal for many”, says Dr SrinivasReddy Sr Consultant .& CT Surgeon, SRM Medical Colllge and Hospital.  The Procedure was performed by the team of CT surgeons led by Dr Reddy

This scenario is very rare and extremely life threatening. Such conditions are developed due to high blood pressure, mental and physcial stress and irregular treatment of  heart ailments.