Unique medical procedure performed at BDF Hospital

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A unique medical procedure was performed at Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Hospital in which the swollen part of the aorta within the circulatory system was repaired on a 66-year-old patient. The aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body.

The blood leaves the heart through the aortic valve. Then it travels through the aorta, making a cane-shaped curve that allows other major arteries to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the brain, muscles and other cells.

In a statement issued to the media, Dr Martin Maresch, consultant vascular surgeon at BDF Hospital, said the patient was diagnosed with a large aneurysm of about 6 cm in the abdominal aorta. “This type of aortic dilatation, if left for a long time without treatment, can lead to the rupture of this artery, which may lead to death through severe bleeding. So, we had to repair the swollen part of the aorta within the circulatory system.”

“Earlier, such conditions were repaired through a major surgery that required a wide opening of the abdomen. The surgery also required the stoppage of blood flow to at least half of the body for a stipulated period of time.

“But now, we are exploring new techniques at the hybrid operating room, where open surgery is combined with interventional vascular techniques.” The patient was treated by making a small puncture using a catheter through the femoral arteries. While placing stents, technologies combining CT scans and angiography were used by the medical team.

“The use of the latest technologies has made the procedure much safer while significantly reducing the risks to the patient. The patient was later discharged from the hospital in a stable condition.” Dr Martin thanked the Commander of the Royal Medical Services, Major General Professor Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, for his continuous support and guidance to the Vascular Surgery Department, which has enabled the department to attain excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases.

In a first-of-its-kind procedure last year, a medical team at BDF Hospital performed catheterisation by placing an internal stent that extended from the thoracic aorta at the top to the abdominal aorta at the bottom.

According to medical teams, the placement of an internal stent through the catheter in order to exclude the aortic aneurysm and return its size to its normal before the expansion is one of the successful modern solutions. The Bahrain Defence Force –Royal Medical Services (BDFRMS) commenced in 1968 as a small clinic.

In 1979 the BDF-RMS grew from a small operation into a 120-bed hospital. Since then, it has continuously grown and expanded the services, becoming the second largest hospital in the Kingdom with 481 beds to date.

While valuing its rich history, the BDF-RMS has been continuously aiming to improve and uphold its commitment to offer the highest quality of healthcare in the most efficient manner. The three major components of the BDF-RMS include the Military Hospital, Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa Cardiac Centre and the Field Military Battalion.