|
|
In what is claimed to be a first in India and a rare feat globally, doctors in Kerala have performed a total hip replacement surgery on a patient with a transplanted heart.
A team of orthopaedic surgeons and anasthesia specialists at the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital and Surgical Centre in Kochi successfully conducted the surgery on 38-year-old IT professional Girish Kumar.
Kumar’s damaged right hip was replaced with an artificial hip made of titanium, high density plastic and ceramic.
He underwent a heart transplant performed by eminent cardiac surgeon Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram at Lissie Hospital in Kochi city five months back.
“The success of the surgery gives hope to several patients, who have got a new lease of life after their heart transplantation but are unable to have a normal life because of severe joint pains,” said Dr M I Sahadulla, chairman of the KIMS group of hospitals.
Kumar, who has been suffering from hip pain, was diagnosed with rheumatism and was on regular pain killers for a long time – even much before the heart transplantation. He was the fourth patient to undergo heart transplantation by Dr Periappuram and this team.
“The capability of transplanted heart to withstand the trauma of a major surgery like a total hip replacement had to be considered as the transplanted heart has a mind of its own and can behave unpredictably,” said Dr Jose Pappanacherry, the chief orthopaedic surgeon who headed the team of doctors.
“The response of transplanted heart to stress is different as it lacks nerve supply as opposed to a normal heart. Also after a heart transplant, the patient has to take immuno-suppressant medication for life to prevent rejection of the new heart. Luckily, five months after the surgery, the dose of these drugs has been brought to the minimum possible,” Dr Pappanacherry said.
Immuno-suppressants decrease the ability of the patient to fight bacteria and ward off infections. This was a major concern for the doctors as an infection after the hip replacement could spell a major disaster.
The patient is making rapid recovery. He can walk with support and is expected to walk independently after six weeks.
“The big thing is that the hip pain is gone. He spends his time in the ICU doing rehabilitative physiotherapy and surfing the Net,” the doctors said. “The success has underlined the importance of teamwork, detailed planning and co-operation among different specialists.”