Rare Neurointerventional procedure gives new lease of life to brain aneurysm patient performed by doctor’s at Apollo Hospital
Bengaluru: The doctors at Apollo Hospital performed a complex brain aneurysm endovascular surgery to help save the life of a 56-year-old school admin from Bangalore. Shylaja went for a check-up at Apollo Hospital where the senior consultant neurologist Dr J B Agadi was informed by the patient about the vague sensation in the left half of the face and arm. After clinical examination, an MRI scan was reviewed. The MRI scan then showed that the patient was suffering from occlusion of both carotid arteries of brain which was compensated by another two vertebral artery which unfortunately had complex multiple aneurysms on it. The case was then brought to Dr. Sharath Kumar G G s notice, an Interventional Neuroradiologist at Apollo Hospital.
Brain Aneurysms are bulging from weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. In most cases, the brain aneurysm ruptures, releasing blood into the brain causing a devastating stroke.
Most brain aneurysms cause no symptoms and may only be discovered during tests. In other cases, an unruptured aneurysm will cause problems by pressing on areas in the brain. When this happens, the person may suffer from severe headaches, blurred vision, changes in speech, and neck pain, depending on what areas of the brain are affected and how bad the aneurysm is.Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm often come on suddenly.
The case was extremely rare as she had complex brain related blood vessel disease. There are 4 blood vessels in the human brain which supplies oxygen and glucose to the brain. The two major arteries were blocked and the remaining two blood vessels which come together to form one vessel was also diseased. The challenge was to treat the diseased vessel and if that would go wrong even a bit due to technical or procedure related complications, the entire brain would die i.e.; the central brain would undergo a stroke killing the patient. And if left untreated, multiple aneurysms would burst and kill the patient as well. Multispecialty meeting was conducted involving senior consultant Neurologist Dr J B Agadi, Dr Ravi Mohan Rao, senior consultant Neurosurgeon and Dr Sharath Kumar G G, Consultant interventional Neuroradiologist to decide on the best treatment for the patient. It was decided to go ahead with coiling of the largest aneurysm followed by placing a flow diverter stent across the diseased artery.
The next big challenge was affording for the specialized flow diverter stent which costs around Rs. 8 lakh per stent and the patient required 2 stents. The doctor’s along with a German Neuroradiologist decided to donate the stents worth Rs. 16 lakhs and it was an extremely rare case probably the first in the world in this kind of disease and the patient’s life was at stake.
“The patient’s arteries were blocked and the only vessel was also diseased , due to which her life was at risk and we had to perform the surgery immediately without wasting anytimewhich was the biggest challenge for us. The cost of the stent was high and the family could not afford. We wanted to help the family & save the patients life at any cost. It was an extremely challenging case for us and a do or die sort off a situation. The stents were donated by the German Neuroradiologist at the right time and this helped us in performing the surgery with utmost care and completing the surgery successfully which gave us a sense of relief and satisfaction” said Dr. Sharath Kumar G G, Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist- Apollo Hospital, Bangalore.
“The symptom was numbness in the left side of her body and was sudden. We visited the doctor at Apollo and after the MRI scan, we were informed that my mother has Brain Aneurysm and a surgery would be required. We tried and cross checked with other hospitals if there is any substitute for it but were informed that ENDOVASCULAR NEUROINTERVENTION would be mandatory so we decided to go ahead with it. But on hearing the cost of stents, we were in a dilemma as we could not afford due to our financial condition and wanted to go back home. When we were about to leave the hospital, Dr. Sharath informed us about the stents being donated by a German radiologist.
That was the moment which changed our lives, doctor went out of his way and helped us by arranging free stents for which thanking him is not enough. The surgery took place and was performed successfully. Though we knew it was a high risk surgery we had full confidence on the doctors and knew my mother would recover. The doctor’s were very helpful and during the entire episode, they explained each and everything in detail which helped us take accurate decisions. I am very thankful to Apollo and especially to Dr. Sharath for saving my mother’s life” said Mr. Chandan, son of Mrs. Shylaja.