A young male student of 20-years from Nagpur reported with Aortic Dissection with Marfan Syndrome – an inherited disorder that affects the connective tissue at Medicover Hospitals, Hitech City Hyderabad. Aortic dissection is a medical emergency in which the inner layer of the large blood vessel branching off the heart (aorta) tears. Patient presents with severe chest or upper back pain that radiates to the neck or down the back, loss of consciousness and shortness of breath.

Aortic dissection is relatively uncommon. The condition most frequently occurs in men in their 60s and 70s. An aortic dissection occurs in a weakened area of the aortic wall. Chronic high blood pressure may stress the aortic tissue, making it more susceptible to tearing.

Also seen in people born with a condition associated with a weakened and enlarged Aorta, such as Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, or other rarer conditions associated with weakening of the walls of the blood vessels. Aortic dissection can quickly lead to death from not enough blood flow to the heart or complete rupture of the aorta.

Dr Pramod Reddy, Chief Cardiothoracic and Aortic Surgeon, Medicover Hospitals and teamcarried out this complex procedure by replacing half of the aorta from the aortic root by using new technique called FROZEN ELEPHANT TRUNK. The complex nature of the procedure is that the main arteries which supplies blood to the brain and heart are present in the affected part and requires precision care and expertise to repair and replace the aorta from the root.

Dr Pramod further explained that the patient is required to be put under Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest – which means cooling the patient’s body to a temperature of around 18-20 degrees and stopping blood circulation to the entire body except the brain for a period of 45 minutes.

The entire procedure is expected to be done during the window of Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest and any delay would result in losing the patient.

Dr Pramod Reddy & the team successfully carried out the procedure and stabilized the patient. The patient is now recovering and would soon be leading a normal life.

Very few centers across the globe perform this surgery. Usually, this procedure is done in a two-stage process, but we were able to successfully manage the whole procedure in a single stage which is done by using a special tube with a stent. (FROZEN ELEPHANT TRUNK TECHNIQUE). This technique reduces the necessity for subsequent additional operations and therefore may improve long-term survival.

(This case study has been developed by Dr. Pramod Reddy and his team at Medicover Hospitals, Hyderabad)