A cardiac tumour about the size of a lemon has been successfully removed from a 27-year-old woman’s heart. The operation was conducted at Max Hospital, Patparganj. The tumour was discovered after a fragment travelled to her brain, resulting in a stroke. The patient, Rakhi, a mother of two, visited the medical facility with severe headache, vomiting, altered sensorium, and prolonged numbness.
She has since been discharged.
According to PTI, Dr Vaibhav Mishra, Director and Head of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, who operated on her, said the large tumour was discovered in one of the chambers of her heart.
A fragment of the tumour had broken away, travelled to her brain and caused a blockage, resulting in a stroke, Mishra said. This condition is called embolisation, and it occurs when a solid substance detaches from its parent tumour and fixes itself in another organ, most commonly the brain, he said.
The patient had arrived with symptoms of a stroke, which is uncommon in young individuals, especially women. However, “after recognising the rarity of stroke at such a young age, a comprehensive diagnostic was undertaken which led to the discovery of the tumour", the cardiac surgeon said.
Dr Mishra and his team performed a minimally invasive 'scarless' procedure instead of the conventional open heart surgery. This involved a small 5 cm incision in the right chest without cutting the ribs, Mishra added.
Dr Vivek Kumar, Senior Director of Neuro Sciences, who initially treated the patient for stroke, emphasised the importance of prompt and accurate diagnosis.
Rakhi was discharged on the fourth day post-surgery, after “she made a full recovery”.