Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 19, 2017: Cardiac surgeons from Dubai Hospital have successfully performed a complex emergency cardiac surgery that lasted more than 12 hours.

The surgery was performed on a 41-year-old Sri-Lankan expatriate who was first admitted to an emergency department of a private hospital. Upon diagnosis, the hospital requested a transfer to Dubai Hospital for immediate surgery.

The patient had a Type A Aortic Dissection, which is a life-threatening condition that needs immediate surgical intervention. 

Dr Abdelrahman Al Jassmi, CEO of Dubai Hospital, said: “Aortic Dissection is at the forefront of complex operations, in terms of risk and direct threat to a patient's life. In such situations, quick and precise intervention is necessary as an aortic dissection can lead to massive bleeding  around the heart and shut down of the body’s vital organs such as the brain, kidneys, liver and can lead to immediate death.  Dubai Hospital has become a pioneer in heart surgeries due to the highly-qualified multidisciplinary talented healthcare professionals, our processes and policies and the use of latest technology.”

A multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals led by Dr. Faouzi Safadi, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon performed the surgery. The team consisted of Dr. Basil Al Zamkan, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. Tariq Abdulaziz, a senior Specialist cardiac surgeon and Dr. Rami Maximus, specialist cardiac surgeon. The team was assisted by an anesthesiologists including  Dr. Nair Siddiqui,  consultant anesthesiologist and Dr. Yahya Al Qurali, senior specialist anesthesiologist. The team also included nurses, cardiovascular perfusionists and technicians. 

Dr.  Safadi, said: “Aortic dissection is a serious life-threatening condition in which the inner layer of the aorta (the large blood vessel branching off the heart) tears.  Blood surges through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate (dissect). Therefore, emergency surgery is needed to stop the bleeding, replace the torn blood vessels and ensure the functioning of the heart. 

Dr Safadi added that in this type of an open-heart surgery, extensive preparation is needed prior to surgery. “At Dubai Hospital, we use an advanced technique which is highly-specialized to provide a continuous supply of blood to the brain throughout the surgery even when blood circulation to the rest of the body is stopped.”

Dr. Al Zamkan further explained: “ We first put the patient on a heart-lung machine which is a device used in open-heart surgery to support the body during the surgical procedure while the heart is stopped. Our excellent results in this kind of surgery are mainly due to our advanced brain protection strategy throughout the surgery.  Even when we completely stop the blood circulation throughout the body, we provide continuous blood supply to the brain. This technique is very precise but it protects the patient’s from neurological complications like stroke post-surgery.”

The doctors then began the procedures needed to restore the aorta.

Dr Fauzi said: “First, the ascending aorta with the aortic valve and coronary arteries were repaired using a conduit graft. Then,we carried out aortic dissection with advanced methods to repair the tear instead of the conventional method of dissecting through the damaged area. This is the first time in the Emirate that this innovative method was used in this kind of surgery. After this, the total aortic arch was replaced with re-implantation of all blood vessels that originate from the arch.

“It look us close to 12 hours to complete these procedures.”

Dr. Yahya Al Qarali said that the patient needed close monitoring of all his vital signs, especially during the cooling time, until his body reached a body temperature of 18 degrees. After repair of the aorta, the patient was re-warmed and was weaned off the artificial heart-lung machine in a stable condition. Later the patient was transferred to the surgical ICU where he remained for two days.

He was then transferred to the regular ward and is now ready for discharge.