A new life to Gurdev from CMC

Mr Gurdev Singh with Dr Jeyaraj Pandian and Dr Harinder Singh Bedi

Gurdev Singh of   village Rameyana , Faridkot  was in a difficult situation. This 52 year old farmer suffered from an acute stroke (brain attack) which kept evolving. He was seen by Dr Jeyaraj Pandian – Prof of Neurology at the Christian Medical College & Hospital Ludhiana and Director to the World Stroke Organisation from South-East Asia . Gurdev was immediately put on the best medical therapy. However he continued to have recurrent stroke symptoms and was found on investigation to have a critical block of the artery to his left brain  (internal carotid artery) . What was more worrying to Dr Pandian was that Gurdev had a superimposed clot (thrombus) which was also  extending proximally into the common carotid artery . This persisted in spite of clot busters which were given and there was a danger that the clot would break off and enter the brain. He was then referred to Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of Cardio Vascular & Thoracic Surgery . Dr Bedi has one of the largest experience of surgery of the carotid arteries esp in acute stroke and has recently presented his experience at the International Asia Pacific Conference on Vascular Interventions  where it was much appreciated by a large International gathering of experts.

Gurdev was then taken up for a high risk surgery called a carotid endarterectomy . During surgery a difficult variation in anatomy was found. Dr Bedi said that this anomaly -high bifurcation of the carotid artery – was a particularly challenging one . Because of the vast experience of the team the clot was removed completely and the artery repaired.  Anesthesia for this difficult case was given by Dr Arun Gupta. Gurdev made a complete  recovery. The other members of the team are Dr Allen Joseph, Dr Viju  Abraham, Dr Pranay Pawar and Dr Richa .

Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC & H – said that the CMC was committed to deliver a complete and International level care to the people of the region. In the absence of advanced surgical therapy a stroke can be disabling or even fatal . --Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria