An unusual surgery was performed by a team of physicians at the Chettinad Health City on a 54-year-old patient with a unique heart condition.
Talking to reporters about the procedure, Ravi Kumar, director, Institute of Cardio Vascular Disease, Chettinad Health City, said the patient had a rare condition known as ‘Situs Inversus Solitaris with Dextrocardia.’ In this condition, the whole organ appears flipped over, so that the anatomy could be described as back to front. The chambers, valves and major vessels were in reverse position.
When this problem occurred in humans, it was common for surrounding organs to be affected as well and it was found that those with the problem usually had their spleen and liver also in the reverse position, he said.
The patient came to the hospital earlier this month and on February 8 the three-and-a half-hour surgery was performed on him.
Dr. Ravi Kumar said one in 10,000 persons had this problem. The treatment was provided under the Chief Minister’s Insurance Scheme.
The patient, after the surgery, is able to walk for four or five times a day for 15 minutes and his health condition is also normal, Dr. Ravi Kumar added.
