Nearly 250 clots were removed from the lung arteries of a 33-year-old Sandip Kadam, software professional from Delhi.

When some of the biggest hospitals in the country failed to provide him with a medical solution for his collapsing lungs and heart, doctors from the Coimbatore-based Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) took the challenge of saving Sandip’s life.

Today his heart pumps joy and his lungs continue to breathe. Sandip underwent a procedure in one of the Delhi hospitals, in which a filter in large lower body vein (inferior vena cava) was placed to prevent blood clots from entering into his lungs. However, by then, several hundred clots had found their way into his lungs leaving him breathless. This also resulted in the deterioration of his heart. His heart was functioning at below 30 percent efficiency. His oxygen saturation also came down significantly. Doctors advised him to undergo the complicated Bilateral Pulmonary Thromboendartectomy surgery.

Sandip consulted with doctors in Delhi, but they told him that his chances of survival are only 50 percent. He took his search to the internet and that was how he found the KMCH. He was examined by Dr. Prashant Vaijyanath, Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery, KMCH, who specializes in performing complicated high risk surgeries.
“We examined him and after evaluating him, we informed him that he will live to watch his children grow,” Dr. Vaijyanath said. But, he would require an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support following the surgery to help his lung recover after the operation.

On the day of the surgery, Sandip underwent an eight-hour-long complicated pulmonary thromboendartectomy. His heart and lungs were connected to the heart-lung machine. About 250 clots were successfully removed from his lung arteries.

The anxious family of 21, who had come all the way from Sangli in Maharastra (his native place) waited and prayed while the team of experts operated upon Sandip. After an agonizing nine hours of surgery Dr. Prashant Vaijyanath emerged from the operation theatre and broke the good news that the operation was successful. The doctor added that the patient has been put on cardio help.

For the next 36 hours, Sandip’s heart and lungs recovered completely and he was weaned off the ECMO and ventilator. “It was like coming out of valley of death,” said the grateful family. About five days later Sandip walked out the hospital.