What is a Zone 2 arch aortic aneurysm?

A Zone 2 arch aortic aneurysm is a dangerous ballooning and weakening of the main blood vessel near the heart, specifically in an area that supplies blood to the brain and upper body.

Why was a hybrid procedure used for the aortic aneurysm?

A hybrid procedure was chosen because the patient had severely compromised lungs, making traditional open-heart surgery too risky. The hybrid approach allowed for a less invasive repair.

What are the benefits of a staged hybrid procedure for aortic aneurysms?

This approach can offer a life-saving solution for patients deemed inoperable by conventional surgical standards, by combining techniques to repair the aorta while minimizing the stress on vulnerable organs like the lungs.

Home / Health / Fragile Lungs, Deadly Aorta: Life-Saving Hybrid Surgery

Fragile Lungs, Deadly Aorta: Life-Saving Hybrid Surgery

12 Feb

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Summary

A complex aortic aneurysm was treated using a staged hybrid procedure.
The patient's fragile lungs presented significant surgical risks.
A less invasive approach minimized risks for the high-risk patient.

Fragile Lungs, Deadly Aorta: Life-Saving Hybrid Surgery

A man in his early sixties from Kerala presented with severe mid-back pain, complicated by a life-threatening Zone 2 arch aortic aneurysm. His medical history included hypertension, heavy smoking, and existing lung damage from tuberculosis, making him an extremely high-risk candidate for traditional open-heart surgery. The critical location of the aneurysm near the vessels supplying the brain posed significant challenges.

To manage this complex case, a team led by Dr. Rohit P V Nair employed a staged hybrid procedure. The first stage involved rerouting blood vessels supplying the brain and placing a band on the ascending aorta to create a stable landing zone. This was followed by a minimally invasive Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) to deploy a stent graft, effectively sealing the weakened section of the aorta.