Promed Hospital Saves 60-year-Old Man from Acute Heart Failure Through Multivessel Angioplasty and a Left-Ventricular Assist Device

Chennai, March 2023: A 60-year-old man from Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai was brought to Promed Hospital, Chennai by his family members, with complaints of shortness of breath and irregular heartbeats. The patient was treated by Dr. Arun Kalyanasundaram and his team. On arrival, the patient was diagnosed with an acute heart attack, complicated by cardiogenic shock. The situation was made worse by multiorgan failure including kidneys that were failing. He was in a very critical condition, and needed multiple intravenous medications to maintain his blood pressure. The heart was found to be functioning only at about 20% ejection fraction (normal being 60-65%). After a diagnostic angiogram, it was found that the patient had multiple blockages in all three vessels that were extensive.

With the consent of his family, the patient was shifted to the Cath lab at Promed Hospital where an Impella device [Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)] was placed. This was to support the circulation to other organs, while performing a complex angioplasty to restore blood flow to the heart. Dr Arun Kalyanasundaram then performed a complex Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure in which he opened up all the blockages in his heart with rotational atherectomy (drilling) and coronary stenting. The Impella device was left in place to help the heart recover and to augment blood flow to the other organs. After 48 hours, the Impella device was removed, bywhich time the heart function had significantly improved. The patient’s other organs also improved over time and he was discharged home a week after his initial presentation.

As the Chief of Cardiology at Promed Hospital, Dr Arun Kalyansundaram stated “The Impella device helped the patient’s heart function temporarily and allowed us to perform the complex PCI procedure. The ability to maintain cardiac output while working on the heart especially in these extremely complex procedures when the patient is in cardiogenic shock is one of the biggest advantages of using this device.” said, Dr Arun Kalyanasundaram.

“While not every patient needs these devices, it is indeed fortunate that we have this technology in ourcath lab, so that the right patient can be supported by this device while we perform complex procedures.” added Dr Arun.

Promed Hospital is a regional multispeciality Hospital that aims to provide global standards of healthcare to everyone irrespective of region or economic ability. As a thriving multispeciality hospital on the rise, its aim is to cater to all aspects of health and well-being to preserve health and promote a holistic way of healing.