“28-Year-Old Woman ‘Dies’ for 6 Minutes in Groundbreaking Surgery”

Doctors at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow have successfully performed a complex surgery on a 28-year-old woman by inducing a temporary state of ‘death’ for six minutes. Using a technique called deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), the doctors cooled the patient’s body, halted blood circulation to all organs, and deliberately induced a controlled ‘clinically dead‘ state. This groundbreaking procedure, carried out for the first time in a government healthcare institution in Uttar Pradesh, allowed the doctors to remove and repair an aortic pseudoaneurysm in just six minutes. The patient was discharged on Friday, marking a significant achievement in medical innovation. ET Online reported

Medical professionals at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, employed a groundbreaking technique to save the life of a 28-year-old woman. During a complex surgery, they utilized deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) to induce a temporary state of ‘death’ for six minutes. This involved cooling the patient’s body to a low temperature, stopping blood circulation to all organs, and deliberately inducing a controlled ‘clinically dead‘ state.

This procedure, which has never been performed before in a government healthcare institution in Uttar Pradesh, was carried out on Vineeta, a woman from Ayodhya. She was suffering from a serious problem with her aorta, a major blood vessel that transports blood from the heart throughout the body. The issue presented as a bulge in the vessel wall, known as an aortic pseudoaneurysm.

Vineeta had previously undergone double valve replacement surgery and was readmitted to KGMU’s cardiology department due to chest pain. After being diagnosed with an aortic pseudoaneurysm, an initial endovascular intervention was performed to close the bulging opening within the aorta. However, complications arose, and the patient faced the risk of rupture and potential fatality. Open surgery was deemed the only viable solution, but any damage to the swollen region could result in immediate death.

To address this challenging situation, the medical team at KGMU carried out the intricate procedure on August 9, utilizing the DHCA technique. The cardiac anaesthesia department administered sedation to Vineeta and monitored her brain activity through a catheter. The cardiac surgery team then made an incision in her thigh and connected a tube to the aorta, linking it to a bypass machine designed to sustain heart and lung functions during the operation.

Perfusionists gradually lowered Vineeta’s body temperature to a safe 22 degrees Celsius over one-and-a-half hours, using the temperature control mechanism of a heart-lung bypass machine. At this temperature, the body can tolerate a ‘dead’ state for up to 15-20 minutes, aided by medication to halt brain activity.

During the induced ‘clinical death’ state, the combined efforts of the cardiac and thoracic surgery teams, along with nursing staff, successfully removed and repaired the aortic pseudoaneurysm in just six minutes. Over the next four hours, the patient’s revival was carefully managed, leading to her removal from a ventilator on August 9. She was subsequently discharged, marking a significant accomplishment in medical innovation and patient care.

This remarkable procedure showcases the pioneering work being conducted at KGMU and highlights the dedication of medical professionals in finding innovative solutions to save lives..