Gopalan became one of the rarest case studies in the world to survive from acute left main coronary arterial thrombosis.
When you see Karunanidhi Gopalan,38, strolling around it is hard to believe that a few weeks back he had suffered a massive heart attack. Gopalan also became one of the rarest case studies in the world to survive from acute left main coronary arterial thrombosis.
“He was brought to the hospital within the window period. When he was taken for coronary angiography, it was found that his left main coronary artery had clotting. Also there was 100% blockage in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). The case was dangerous as left main artery supplies 70%, and the left anterior descending artery (LAD) supplies 50% of blood to the heart,” said Dr Kaushal Chhatrapati, interventional cardiologist, Surana Sethia hospital, who operated on Gopalan.
Dr Chhatrapati said, “I passed a wire across the completely occluded vessel, then with a specialised catheter for clot removal, most of the clot in the artery was removed. I did 10 rounds of clot extraction using this special catheter. Normally two-three rounds suffice.” The patient required a balloon pump to support his blood pressure for the next few days. After 10 days, the patient was discharged.
Experts say a person suffering from a completely closed left main coronary artery and a clot in LAD is a very rare case, as most patients with clot in the left main artery die before reaching the hospital. Others in the medical fraternity also agreed with the rarity of the case. “It is very uncommon and risky operation. In such an incident, we go for bypass surgery and angioplasty is not suggested because of the risk attached,” said Dr Suresh Joshi, cardiac surgeon, Wockhardt Hospital.
Dr Harish Mehta, consulting interventional cardiologist, Nanavati hospital added, “It is a very fatal condition and the fact that the doctor performed an angioplasty and he survived is a good job.” Dr Chhatrapati will be sending Gopalan’s case study for an international medical journal.
While the entire medical fraternity is applauding Dr Chhatrapati, Gopalan is recuperating and feeling lucky to have survived. “I was surprised when I was told that I suffered heart attack. I feel lucky to be alive,” he said.
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