Team of doctors at Wockhardt Hospital with patient Dilip Shah
Latest News Social

Does Wockhardt Hospital’s doctors ‘cheated death’ to save life?

According to the team of doctors at the hospital, the 70-year-old Businessman Dilip Shah’s heart stopped beating for 10 minutes, which was revived by them.

Cardiac and Intensive care Team at Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road, successfully treated a businessman who collapsed on the road after having chest pain. He suffered from cardiac arrest during his course in the hospital. However, the patient was given Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and cardiac massage for 10 minutes to revive him. Later, a challenging coronary artery bypass surgery was performed timely, gave him a fresh lease of life.

Patient Dilip Shah

If we believe on the team of doctors, life was smooth until, patient Dilip Shah, a 70-year-old businessman based in Bhyander felt acutely unwell while riding his Honda Activa on the road. He developed acute onset chest pain and suddenly collapsed on the street on December 11, 2019, and was immediately rushed to the emergency department of Wockhardt Hospital after relatives consulted the family doctor.

On evaluation, it was revealed that he had 100 per cent block in a coronary artery, low blood pressure of 60 systolic, and ECG suggested that he suffered from myocardial infarction also known as a heart attack. He was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock with a complete heart block.

Doctors say

Dr. Chetan Bhambure, Consultant Cardiologist at the Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road said, “The patient received emergency resuscitation and was subjected to angiography. He needed a temporary pacemaker to stabilize his heart rhythm which was going haywire. His angiography revealed a 95 % block in his left main coronary artery, 100% occluded right coronary artery and multiple blockages in the branches of the circumflex and left anterior descending artery. He was not recommended for angioplasty due to the multiple blockages. His heart function had decreased significantly due to the massive nature of the heart attack.”

However, Dr. Bipin Jibhkate, Consultant Intensivist briefed “After angiography, the patient was shifted to ICU where he suffered from ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest, and required multiple cardioversions (a procedure to restore a regular heart rhythm), external cardiac massage (a rhythmic compression of the chest, using the hands to force blood through the blood vessels) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). He regained the rhythm and BP after 10 minutes of CPR, which is very rare. Only 10 per cent of patients survive after this long procedure of CPR.”

A Team of Doctors who performed bypass surgery on Dilip Shah (Second from right). From left to right: Dr. Vasudev, Dr. Bipin Jibhkate, Dr. Upendra Bhalerao, patient’s son Palkesh at extreme right.

The patient was stabilized in ICU with the help of inotropes, mechanical ventilation, antiarrhythmic drugs and intra-aortic balloon pump support to improve his heart function. He subsequently stabilised a bit in 48 hours and was taken up for coronary artery bypass surgery to improve the blood supply to his heart.

Expertise consultant

Dr. Upendra Bhalerao, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, for the hospital said, “A coronary artery bypass surgery was performed on Shah after medically optimizing his condition. He received bypass grafts to his four critically blocked coronary vessels (CABGx 4).”

“The procedure was extremely high risky with 90 per cent mortality rate. Coronary artery bypass surgery is possible even in unstable and critical patients done at centres with expertise. He tolerated the procedure well but remained critical and on a ventilator for the first 48 hours. Subsequently, he improved and was weaned off from ventilator, IABP, and Ionotropes.  After complete recovery in two weeks, he was discharged. The patient has resumed his daily life without any cardiac symptoms,” said the Gold Medallist doctor.

Patient and relative

“After suffering from a massive heart attack, I was immediately rushed to Wockhardt Hospital, wherein I received a timely and appropriate life-saving treatment. I was revived by the doctors, and I underwent a complicated surgery, successfully. I thank the doctors for helping me cheat death. This I consider as my second life,” concluded patient Dilip Shah.

“The whole procedure cost me Rs. 4.5 lakhs which was covered by my insurance policy. However, money was not a concern as the priority was to save my dad’s life. At Wockhardt really life wins,” said Palkesh Shah, patient’s son.