MIOT’s International Meet on Aortic Aneurysms

An International Meet on Aortic Aneurysms – the largest of its kind and the first such in S.E. Asia – was inaugurated on 9 January 2015 MIOT International, in Manapakkam, Chennai. The aim of this workshop was to create more awareness about the risks and problems that result from aortic aneurysms. Doctors participating in the two-day workshop demonstrated techniques on how to minimise it and also perform hybrid surgeries.

Wide participation

Over 250 senior cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiologists and interventional radiologists attended this meet which was intended to help them in performing complex surgeries to treat aortic aneurysms in patients all over the country. More than 15 senior faculty members from different parts of the world – Italy, Belgium, New Zealand, China, Brazil, United States and neighbouring countries – delivered lectures on the latest developments in treating aneurysms.

What are aneurysms

An aneurysm of aorta is defined as a bulge on the biggest blood vessel which carries blood to the whole body. It can occur in any portion of the aorta, either in the chest or in the abdomen – close to the aortic valve and coronary arteries, at the aortic arch where blood vessels go to the brain, in both arms, or in the thoraco-abdominal aorta where blood vessels supply blood to the kidneys, liver, stomach and intestines. When the bulge on the aorta becomes enlarged to more than 1 ½ times its normal size, it is called an aneurysm.

Treatment of aortic-arch aneurysms

Two methods are available to treat these aneurysms::

Open surgery is preferred for younger and fitter patients. To perform an operation on the aortic arch, the patient’s body temperature has to be cooled to about 18-20°C and blood circulation has to be stopped for a short period. Newer techniques in open surgery were demonstrated in this meet to optimise the success rate and reduce complication that can arise from such an operation.

Hybrid surgery is chosen in patients who are old and who have other problems, such as in the lung, kidneys, or for any other reasons where open operations cannot be performed.

Treatment of a thoraco-abdominal aneurysm

A thoraco-abdominal aneurysm is one of the most difficult operations in heart surgery. Surgery for this type of aneurysm can be done using left heart bypass, or hybrid surgery without the use of a heart-lung machine. A special technique was demonstrated in this workshop for open surgery where blood thinning medicines need not be used. This will reduce the chances of complications arising out of bleeding and blood loss which was a major risk in open surgery. These techniques lessen the requirement of blood transfusion.

In conclusion

A reported 600,000 – 700,000 people in India suffer from various types of Aortic aneurysms which need treatment which is primarily open surgical or a keyhole procedure with endovascular graft. However, the situation today in India is that less than 1000 cases are treated; the rest die suddenly due to various complications caused by the 2aortic aneurysm.