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Visitor in Dubai undergoes 12-hour heart surgery

He was in Dubai on holiday when he complained of chest pain and was rushed to hospital.

Dubai — A 56-year-old American citizen of Pakistani origin who was on a visit to the UAE had to undergo an emergency surgery after he suffered intense chest pain. The man was in Dubai on holiday with his wife. He was rushed to Rashid Hospital’s Trauma Centre after he complained of acute chest pain. Upon diagnosis it was identified that the patient had a Type A Aortic Dissection, a life-threatening condition that needs immediate surgical intervention.

Cardiologists from Rashid Hospital contacted the cardiac surgery team in Dubai Hospital and the team immediately prepared the operation theatre.

Cardiac surgeons from Dubai Hospital performed a complex emergency cardiac surgery that lasted more than 12 hours on the man. All preparations were done and the patient was shifted by ambulance to Dubai Hospital.

A multidisciplinary heart team that included Dr Obaid Al Jasim, Dr Fawzi Al Safadi, Dr Tarek Abdel Aziz and Dr Nayeer Siddiqy cardiac anesthetist performed the surgery.

Dr Al Jassim, cardiac surgeon and head of cardiothoracic surgery at Dubai Health Authority, said: “Aortic dissection is a serious life-threatening condition in which the inner layer of the aorta (the large blood vessel branching off the heart) tears. Blood surges through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate (dissect). Therefore, emergency surgery is needed to stop the bleeding, replace the torn blood vessels and ensure the functioning of the heart.

Al Jassim added that in this type of open heart surgery, extensive preparation is needed. “It took us close to 12 hours to complete these procedures and control the bleeding. In the last two years we have performed 12 aortic dissection surgeries but this was by far the most complicated. Of the 12 cases performed earlier, 10 patients were saved. Thus the mortality rate of 16 per cent which is better than the international benchmark of 26 per cent.”

The patient remained in the ICU for eight days, he was then shifted to the ward and was discharged on Tuesday. His will revisit the hospital after two weeks to check his post-operative recovery after which he will return home.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com