Delhi: Team of specialists at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital saves 66-year-old from "Ticking Time Bomb" aortic rupture
New Delhi, June 3
In a high-stakes race against time, a specialist medical team led by Dr Prof. N.N. Khanna, Senior Consultant Cardiologist and North India Lead Consultant for Endovascular Services for the Apollo Group of Hospitals, has successfully performed a life-saving procedure on a patient with a leaking "hidden killer" spanning his chest and abdomen. Aortic aneurysms, abnormal bulges in the wall of the body's main artery, are often silent and can go unnoticed until they become life-threatening. This was the case of a 66-year-old patient suffering from chronic kidney disease.
He initially sought help for a persistent cough and fever, symptoms that appeared routine but masked a terrifying reality.
Advanced imaging revealed a thoraco-abdominal aneurysm, a massive localised ballooning of the artery extending through both the chest and the abdomen. Crucially, the aneurysm had already progressed to a contained rupture, with a leak actively bleeding into the chest cavity.
Left untreated, it was a "ticking time bomb" that could lead to fatal internal haemorrhage at any moment.
The patient's case presented a significant complication: because he was suffering from chronic kidney disease and fragile overall health, conventional open-chest and open-abdominal surgery was deemed far too risky.
"This case was a true race against the clock," said Dr Prof. N N Khanna. "With a rupture already in progress and the added complexity of kidney failure, there was no room for error. Acting in time can save lives."
The team chose a safer, cutting-edge approach: Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR). The patient was first stabilised in the Cardiac Care Unit with specialised medication to lower blood pressure and reduce stress on the weakened artery wall.
Using a small "pinhole" incision in the groin, the team guided a specialised stent graft through the blood vessels into the thoracic area.
With meticulous precision, the graft was deployed to seal the leak in the chest cavity from the inside, reinforcing the damaged section and restoring stable blood flow through the thoraco-abdominal passage. The procedure was a total success, completed without major complications. Following the intervention, the patient's respiratory symptoms eased, and his hemodynamic readings stabilised.
To support his long-term needs, the care team transitioned him to a dialysis regimen alongside his recovery. This outcome underscores the importance of rapid diagnosis. In complex thoraco-abdominal emergencies, the window between a contained rupture and a fatal one can close in minutes.
This success highlights the world-class expertise of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in utilising minimally invasive techniques to spare high-risk patients the trauma of major surgery, effectively giving them a new lease on life.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm from Pune, and this story hits close to home. My uncle had a similar scare last year with an AAA, and we were so scared. The fact that the patient also had chronic kidney disease makes this even more challenging. Minimally invasive is the way forward—open surgery for such cases with kidney issues would be disastrous. I'm so proud of our Indian doctors and hospitals. The use of a pinhole incision in the groin to place a stent graft is pure genius. It gives hope to so many elderly or high-risk patients who might otherwise be told nothing can be done. This is a win for modern medicine and for the Apollo team's expertise.
As someone who works in medical devices in Chicago, I can appreciate the impeccable precision required for this procedure. The TEVAR technique is complex, and deploying a stent graft to seal a contained rupture while keeping the patient stable is high-stakes work. It's impressive that the team moved from diagnosis to the Cath Lab quickly. The mention of "cutting-edge approach" isn't just marketing; this really is the gold standard for such cases. The article doesn't mention it, but I hope the hospital offers genetic screening for aneurysms, as they can be hereditary. Great work by all involved! 💪
I'm so grateful for stories like this! We often complain about healthcare, but this shows the world-class level of care available right here in Delhi. That patient must have been so scared, and his family must be relieved beyond words. The fact that someone with chronic kidney disease can undergo such a complex procedure without open surgery is a blessing. I just wish such advanced treatments were more affordable and accessible in government hospitals, not just private ones like Apollo. Life-saving shouldn't cost a fortune. Still, congratulations to the team for a job well done. May this patient recover fully! 🫶
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