Medical science has reached greater heights. Cases which came across as the rarest and most difficult once upon a time are manifestation of magnificent success now. These cases create a benchmark, harvest a ray of hope and seed of trust in doctors and health institutions. The successful angioplasty operation of a 97 year old man at B M Birla Heart Research Centre speaks volumes of modern days’ state of the art technology and advancement in lines of treatment. 97 year old is considered to be too fragile an age to undergo aggressive treatments and operations. People belonging to such age groups are generally victims of critical ailments which profusely add to the severity of big operations. However, Mr. Pachu Prasad Singh, a resident of our adjacent state takes everyone by surprise with his fitness and hale and hearty health conditions and holds truth to the saying that exceptions are always there.
Mr. Singh has always followed a very healthy lifestyle who has been an early riser and extremely hardworking. He has always exerted in physical activities and practices farming every day in his native town. He has been cultivating rice, pulses, corn, mustard and lot of other crops in his agriculture lands basis the season and climate. His son believes his hard work, energy and exuberance pave the way for tremendous motivation for all the family members. Resting is not his characteristic unless extremely tired. Farming and always being on toes are what have kept him going so far. Roti, pulses, green vegetables and milk along with very less intake of oil and ghee have been his staple diet. Sugar and beverages like tea and coffee have been avoided and very rarely consumed.
One sudden night after completing his meals, he felt difficulty in breathing properly. The very next morning the issue rose to a level where he felt his survival would be at stake. On taking to the local doctor at TPC, he was given certain medicines and advised to consult heart specialists. The family was courageous and ready to explore all avenues leading to his cure and wellness.
Consequently the patient was admitted under Dr. Dhiman Kahali, Senior consultant interventional cardiologist, B M Birla Heart Research Centre, for occasionally suffering from severe chest pain. It was not subsiding to adequate medical management. The patient was provided with adequate medical management by the hospital also and an angiography was done indicating at blockages in two of the arteries. One of the arteries was severely blocked with 80-90% and the other one with 50-60%. Hence, the relatively less blocked artery was kept under medical treatment, yielding positive results. Stent was put into the other one with 80-90% critical blockage after balloon dilation. The post-operative period was extremely successful as the patient was asymptomatic and recovered well and soon got discharged. The primary reason behind highlighting this patient is that many of them at the age of 97 pose high risks for bypass surgery. The expertise of the doctor led him to a similar successful bypass surgery of a 94 year old man and he is surviving well and completely symptom free. The patient also had severe angina at rest and on minimal exertions like the 97 year old man. He is a burning example of the fact that age is no bar nowadays and even at the age of 97, operation was successful without any trouble or event during the procedure or immediately following the procedure. The patient on quick discharge travelled to his home which is few hundred kilometres away from Kolkata. Angioplasty or bypass surgery can be safely executed within these high age group patients with the help of cutting edge process of treatments these days. There is a common myth that angioplasty does not have a long standing effect when it comes to survival. Close to three decades ago, a patient had undergone proximal balloon angioplasty, post which he has healthily survived for 14 years and has currently turned 88 years old. The patient does not have any health hazards, walks in the morning and follows a very healthy lifestyle. Stent was not available 28 years ago and balloon angioplasty was the only medical resort. With the advent of newer drugs and innovative technology, which has eventually given birth to stent technology, angioplasty is performed free of events, followed by long and healthy survival.
The doctor has enlightened us with his opinion that age is not a factor and it’s time to bust the myth that post angioplasty everything soon comes to an end and it’s not equivalent to bypass surgery. On the contrary, it is as good as bypass surgery for these high age brackets. People who are suffering from chest pain, angioplasty is a huge respite for them.
The 97 year old patient can follow the regular life without any stringent guidelines. Given the fact that he has made it to this stage in life, itself vouches for an immensely sound lifestyle. He has set an example to learn the healthy way of life from him. Living examples are very useful learning experiences that can be applied to other patients as well. The only mandatory step in any such case is to definitely take certain drugs regularly as prescribed by doctors and no alterations should be made without due consent of the doctors and cardiologists.
The family of the patient, especially his son feels the doctor has gifted his father a new life and therefore extremely grateful to him and the hospital.
Suggested by Dr. Dhiman Kahali, Senior consultant interventional cardiologist, B M Birla Heart Research Centre
Photograph by- নিজস্ব প্রতিনিধি
Facebook Comments