News & Events

17th May, 2019, Chennai: Kauvery Hospital, a leading multi-specialty and tertiary care hospital chain, successfully treats a life threatening aortic aneurysm rupture by using the technologically advanced Anaconda stent system for the first time in India.

Mr. Prabhakara Rao Kongalla, a 69-year-old resident from Andhra Pradesh suffered from severe abdominal pain and he was diagnosed to have a large aortic aneurysm in the abdomen due to abnormal dilatation of the aortic blood vessel. Before coming to Kauvery Hospital, he had visited various hospitals wherein he was suggested to have an open surgery which involved increased risk and several days of stay in the ICU, eventually resulting in prolonged convalescence.

The aorta is the largest vessel of the body and an abnormality in the aorta can lead to life threatening conditions due to swelling of the aorta (referred to as the dilatation or a tear of the aorta which is referred to as dissection). Such life threatening conditions can be treated using conventional stents through a key-hole procedure but people with unusual blood vessels cannot be treated through this procedure. As a result, many patients with life threatening aortic aneurysms and with very complex blood vessels have to undergo open surgical procedures.

Mr. Kongalla was assessed by Kauvery Hospital’s dedicated 24-hour aortic team. The doctors had suggested for a treatment through a minimally invasive keyhole procedure known as Endovascular Therapy, which will eliminate the need for a open surgery and reduce the recovery period and allow the patient to walk home in two days.

In India, there are no dedicated stent systems in the country that allows for treatment of such complicated aortic conditions. However, across the world, dedicated stent systems that are completely repositionable for such torturous aortic aneurisms called ‘Anaconda Stent Systems’ have been used. Procedures using Ananconda Stent System has never been performed in India owing to the lack of expertise. However, the aortic team at Kauvery Hospital decided to import the Anaconda Stent System and perform the procedure. The team of doctors, led by Dr Sekar Natarajan, Chief Vascular Surgeon, Kauvery Hospital and Dr A.B. Gopalamurugan, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiology and Chief of Endovascular Therapy, Kauvery Hospital performed the challenging procedure in critical circumstances on Mr. Kongolla.

By performing the keyhole procedure using Anaconda Stent System, the very complex and dilated aortic aneurysm was treated successfully which allowed Mr. Kongalla to be mobilized the day after the procedure and be discharged on the third day.

Dr A. B. Gopalamurugan who is an expert in such Endovascular therapies and who has performed several new procedures in the country, explained the key aspects of the Anaconda Stent System today by demonstrating the device.

Kauvery Hospital has been at the forefront of cutting edge cardiovascular and blood vessel treatments over the last few years. The hospital also runs a 24/7 dedicated Aortic Centre to deal with life threatening conditions such as Aortic Aneurisms and Aortic Dissections.

“Kauvery Hospital has identified technologies of global standards and have adopted practices that can improve health outcomes. We are glad to have leading experts in the country who have performed various first in India procedures at Kauvery Hospital. This case is yet another fine example of how Kauvery Hospital is emerging as a preferred destination for holistic healthcare, particularly for performing complicated medical procedures”, said Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive director, Kauvery Hospitals. “A well-structured plan of action with the right resources in place is solely responsible for the success in repairing infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysms for the first time in the country with Anaconda stent graft system. We aim to help people around the world to lead a normal and active life by addressing to all healthcare needs”.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr A. B. Gopalamurugan, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiology and Chief of Endovascular Therapy, Kauvery Hospital “For the very first time in the country, we have successfully performed the Anaconda stent graft procedure on Mr. Kongalla who had been suffering from aortic aneurysm. We are glad to see the progress in his health from the day he was brought to the hospital to today where he stands amidst us, all hale and hearty. It was not very long ago when Mr. Kongalla had come to us complaining of severe pain in the abdomen. On diagnosis, the unusual swelling was confirmed to be the infra-renal aortic aneurysm. Kauvery Hospital has been on the forefront in providing the best treatment options for various cardio-vascular ailments and conditions”.

Treatment of emergencies regarding the Aorta requires a large team with expertise, infrastructure and 24/7 service protocols. There are very few aortic centres in the country and Kauvery Hospital has been at the forefront of such treatments by performing high volume aortic treatments and first in India treatments over the last few years.

About Kauvery Hospital:

Kauvery Hospitals is ‘A new Age Family Hospital’ with Multi Specialty Clinical Expertise and a pioneer in the ‘HealthCare Provider’ industry, making healthcare affordable. Kauvery is one of the few corporate hospital chains to successfully integrate operations into Tier 1 cities after launching into Tier 2 cities. It is also one of the few hospitals founded by Medical experts and managed by business professionals with a keen focus on delivering personalized and specialized health care with warmth.

Kauvery Hospitals is currently a 1200 bed hospital group with presence in Chennai, Trichy, Hosur and Salem in addition to planned entry in new markets.

Apart from having diverse Multispecialty tertiary care expertise, Kauvery Hospitals house one of three ‘Cardiac Centers of Excellence in South India’ and the only one in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy).

In today’s times where the healthcare industry is more and more commoditized, Kauvery Hospitals stands tall with its promise of making medical expertise and technology truly affordable with empathy and care at every stage of a person’s healthcare needs.