Heart & Liver Surgery Without a Break Gives a New Lease of Life to 63 Year Old Nigerian at Fortis Hospitals

MUMBAI, India, June 8, 2010 - Adding another feat to the history of cardiothoracic surgery
at Fortis Hospitals Bangalore, the team of experts led by noted Dr. Vivek
Jawali, Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Dr. Ramcharan Thiagarajan,
Consultant Surgical GI & Hepato-Pancreatic Biliary Surgoen has performed a
combined cardiac bypass and liver tumor surgery on a 63 year old Nigerian.

This is one the most rare and complicated case where a patient
underwent a cardiac bypass and a liver surgery at the same time. Mr. Saidu
Abubarkar, retired Executive Director of Nigerian Television Authority had
visited Fortis Hospitals Bangalore couple of months ago for a cardiac
consultation. He was diagnosed to have coronary artery disease with severe
left ventricular dysfunction and had 6 blockages and was recommended for a
bypass surgery. During his preoperative evaluation he was diagnosed to have
compensated liver disease with a malignant tumor in the right lobe of the
liver. He was known to be positive for Hepatitis B virus for which he was
advised to take antiviral medication. The elevated liver marker was
suggestive of Liver cancer and was advised for a liver resection.

"This is a very risky and complicated situation where the
patient's heart was weakened with 6 blockages, he was hypertensive, diabetic,
cirrhotic liver and had liver tumor. We had to carefully understand and
evaluate Mr. Saidu's case to ensure that he receives the appropriate
treatment and both his liver and cardiac problem was taken care of" said Dr.
Vivek Jawali.

"We have done many combined cardiac surgeries in the past, but
a cardiac bypass and a liver surgery of his nature is to my knowledge is one
of its kind in our country. Both the surgeries were high risk surgery and to
perform both in the same sitting was a challenge which our team took and
successfully accomplished" added Dr. Vivek Jawali.

"The tumor was resting deep inside and back of the liver and
due to its location he was not a candidate for other palliative options and
surgery was the best option. The liver had cirrhosis on visual examination.
About 20 - 25% of his liver was resected along with the tumour completely
with adequate surgical margin. However since his liver is already affected by
Hepatitis B and has cirrhosis, he has to ultimately get a liver transplant at
a later stage" said Dr. Ramcharan Thiagarajan.

"The advantages of the combined surgery are that the patient
need not have to wait to recover from his heart surgery and then go through
rigmarole of major liver surgery and recover again, faster recovery,
financial benefit of one surgery rather two and he need not have to worry
about the spread of Liver cancer during the waiting time. With the clinical
expertise and facilities available at our institution, we were successful in
handling the criticality of the situation and perform both the surgeries
without much blood loss and help the patient recover at the earliest" added
Dr. Ramcharan.

"I visited Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa and London apart
from doctors in Nigeria. Some doctors told me my condition was too critical
and surgery would be risky for me. Learning about the expertise available at
Fortis Hospitals India we knew it was the perfect choice for my treatment. I
am thankful to the doctors at Fortis Hospitals and wish to come here for any
further medical treatment if required" said Mr. Saidu.

    Media Contact:
    Priyam Bortamuli
    Fortis Hospitals Ltd.
    Mobile - +91-984555-8559, landline - +91-080-66139900, extn - 910
    Email - priyam.bortamuli@fortishopitals.in
    enquiries@fortishospitals.in

Media Contact: Priyam Bortamuli, Fortis Hospitals Ltd. Mobile - +91-984555-8559, landline - +91-080-66139900, extn - 910, Email - priyam.bortamuli at fortishopitals.in, enquiries at fortishospitals.in