Manipal Hospitals Bangalore Successfully Performed India's First Bentall Operation

Manipal Hospitals Bangalore, foremost multi-specialty healthcare provider committed to clinical excellence and patient care, performed Bentall operation successfully on a Jehovah witness patient - 43-year-old Mr. Uwen from Nigeria - this month, a first in Asia.

A team of Cardiothoracic Vascular and Heart Transplant Surgeons, Dr. Devananda NS, HOD & Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant, Dr. Murali Krishna, Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant and Dr. Lalchand H Bandagi, Consultant Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant of Manipal Hospitals Bangalore conducted this procedure.

Mr. Uwen, 43-year-old Geophysicist from Nigeria was excessively getting tired due to physical exertion for last couple of years. It worsened so much over last two years that he had to voluntarily quit his job. When investigated, he was found to have severe leak of aortic valve (one of main valve of heart) leading to severe enlargement of his heart, producing heart failure. He was put on heart failure medication and asked to undergo change of aortic valve at earliest.

Being a person of Jehovah faith, who does t accept any blood or blood product transfusion, it was difficult for him to find a surgeon who would accept him for surgery. When he got in touch with Jehovah community in India, he was directed to Dr. Devananda NS, HOD & Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant, and Manipal Hospitals Bangalore who have experience in treating several Jehovah patients for heart surgery.

Sharing more details on case, Dr. Devananda NS, HOD & Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery, Heart Transplant, Manipal Hospitals Bangalore, said, "Mr. Uwen was reinvestigated at Manipal Hospital.

In addition to aortic valve leak with heart enlargement, he was also found to have gross enlargement of aortic root and early part of his aorta, medically called 'annuloaortic ectasia'.

This condition requires t only replacement of aortic valve but also replacement of entire aortic root (Bentall Operation). This is a complicated operation and doing it without blood on face of his poorly functioning heart (Ejection Fraction - 35%) which orwise should have been 55% (in a rmal person) was a challenge. After coronary angiography, he was treated for 2 weeks with iron replacement and erythropoietin injections to build his hemoglobin from 13.5 gm/dL to 14 gm/dL. He underwent Bentall Operation on 03/01/2020; he had a smooth recovery and was discharged within 10 days with a hemoglobin of 10 gm/dL."

To our kwledge, this happens to be first case being reported from a Jehovah Witness in India. However, Dr. Devananda NS, HOD & Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant, Manipal Hospitals Bangalore, who has performed heart surgeries in over a dozen of Jehovah patients from 3.5 kg child to adults, says, "This is second time he has performed this operation on a Jehovah patient. Apart from meticulous planning, operation, good post-operative care is essential for successfully treating this challenging group of patients."

Expressing his happiness on treatment, Mr. Uwen said, "I have recovered completely and w leading a happy and rmal life all thanks to Dr. Devananda and team. doctors have been supportive throughout procedure and even my post-surgery follow-ups reports are good.

Grateful to team that y took up this challenging surgery and at same time keeping up with sentiments of my belief and faith. I appreciate efforts and commitment of doctors."