A rare, multiple cardiovascular surgery that lasted eight hours was successfully performed in the national capital region (NCR) on a 33-year-old woman who was suffering from a large blood clot in an artery near her heart, doctors said Wednesday.

The procedure was carried out on Shailesh Devi, who lives in Gurgaon and was admitted to the Artemis Health Institute with chest pain and breathlessness along with palpitation induced by exertion.

The surgery which involved 'aortic valve replacement, aortic arch grafting, artery reconstruction and patient revival' was performed by a team of doctors led by the Artemis chief executive officer and chief cardiothoracic surgeon Kushagra Katariya Aug 10.

Kataria said: 'This was one of the most complex surgeries I have undertaken due to the sheer nature of the case. The highest risk that we encountered was due to the abnormally large size of the aneurysm, which led to the aneurysmal aorta being stuck to the back of the chest. The tear extended to the artery that supplies blood to the brain. Therefore, it meant that utmost care had to be taken from the time we entered the chest cavity. The chances of perforation were very high, which could have led to instant death.'

Despite the risks involved the surgery had to be carried out, Katariya said, as 'this was Shailesh's only chance'. Doctors had also found that her 'aortic valve was not functioning properly' for which an artificial valve had to be implanted.

Still recuperating and preparing for another corrective surgery, Shailesh said: 'This is incredible for me and my family. I had been declined treatment by some of the leading private and government healthcare facilities in Delhi, due to the complexity of the case and low chances of survival. We had nearly given up all hope. But then I happened to come to Artemis... I now want to get back to my work at the earliest possible.'

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