Surgeons at Hiranandani Hospital conduct rare brain operation to give life to 11–yr Powai lad

Agencies

Last month, Powai resident Saurabh Pandey (11) collapsed in school after throwing up several times. His teachers rushed him to a nearby clinic, where doctor referred him to Hiranandani Hospital, Powai.

He had developed an intracranial aneurysm (weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery). Doctors performed a very high-risk surgery in his brain. He survived this and is being referred to as a miracle-child.

“When he was brought to us, he was almost in the comatose state. We found that he had an aneurysm in his brain, which is extremely unusual in a child,” said Dr Viswanathan Iyer, endovascular neurosurgeon at Hiranandani Hospital.

According to Dr Iyer, only 2 per cent of such aneurysms are found in children. An aneurysm is a widening or a bubble in the wall of a blood vessel, caused by genetic defects, high blood pressure, or build-up of fatty deposits. When such a bubble appears in the arteries in the head, they are called “intracranial aneurysms.” Experts say they are extraordinarily dangerous as they can burst anytime, filling the brain or skull with blood.

Doctors performed an endo-vascular coiling procedure on Saurabh on December 13, and then kept him under observation for a month. “The endo-vascular procedure is a surgery that involves putting a catheter to reach the aneurysm, and then block it using coils. This is different from an open surgery, where the skull is opened up and clips are put on the aneurysm,” said Dr Iyer, adding that these procedures ensure faster recovery of the patient. “We kept him under observation because there are chances of an occurrence of a vasospasm (narrowing of arteries because of the bleeding), on the 4th, 10th and 14th days.”

Saurabh has now been discharged and is all set to start going to school soon. “We were very scared when we saw his condition, but he is absolutely fine now,” said Saurabh’s father, Rakesh Pandey.