Thiruvananthapuram, June 15: KIMSHEALTH, successfully treated a 55 year old patient from Maldives, who was suffering from a rare cardiac condition. The patient came to the OP with complaints of breathlessness and palpitations. On detailed evaluation using trans-thoracic and trans-esophageal echocardiography, he was diagnosed with Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect ( SVASD), an unusual heart defect, accounting for only 1 % of all congenital heart diseases. SVASD is an unusual hole in the heart, which causes a mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the heart
Traditionally, such defects are corrected only through open-heart surgery. Whereas, in this case, the defect was closed using a covered stent, delivered through a catheter inserted via the groin, and deployed in superior vena cava, a large vein that returns de-oxygenated blood from the upper half of the body to the heart's right atrium- one of the heart's four chambers, said Dr. Shyam Sasidharan, Consultant, Department of Cardiology, KIMSHEALTH, who led the procedure. This novel technique, developed over the past decade, is gaining recognition globally. Reports suggest that fewer than 1,500 cases have been performed so far worldwide, added Dr. Sasidharan.
The success of this procedure depends on precise anatomical assessment using multi-modality imaging, including advanced cardiac CT. The two-hour-long procedure was completed successfully, and the patient made a steady recovery, and was discharged on the second day post procedure.
The multidisciplinary team included Dr. Ramesh Natarajan, Senior Consultant,Cardiology; Dr. Shaji Palangadan, Senior Consultant, Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Dr. Subash S, Consultant, Cardio-thoracic Anesthesia; and Dr. Joseph Thomas, Associate Consultant, Imaging and Interventional Radiology.