CMC saves 21-year-old girl in medical emergency to recovery

CHITWAN: Never had a 21-year-old lady from Chitwan district imagined that she would survive one of a rare and potentially fatal neurological condition known as ‘brain aneurysm’.

Thanks to the timely medical intervention of the highly skilled surgeons and sophisticated equipment at the Chitwan Medical College (CMC) in the district, the resident of Icchakamana rural municipality got a new lease of life.

The team led by interventional radiologist Dr Vivek Kumar Sah and cardiovascular surgeon Prof Dr Anil Acharya on last Sunday performed an advanced surgery without a single surgical incision.

The medical team, instead of resorting to conventional surgery involving opening of the skull, opted for a sophisticated minimally invasive procedure called neurointervention technique.

They navigated through the patient’s damaged artery and implanted a tiny mesh device called a ‘flow diverter’ at the site of the rupture.

The device redirected blood flow away from the weakened section of the vessel, allowing it to heal while reducing the risk of further rupture.

Recalling the rigorous surgery, Dr Sah said, “This is an extremely complex case because the ruptured vessel was located in a highly sensitive area. Reaching it through conventional surgery would have been very difficult.”

Doctors explained that weakened blood vessels could develop when the body’s immune system is compromised. Because the artery can rupture further during treatment, the procedure requires exceptional precision and care.

The procedure was made possible by the CMC’s advanced Bi-Plane Cath Lab and a team of skilled specialists.

The facility allows doctors to perform highly complex imaging-guided treatments. Until recently, patients with such conditions often had to travel abroad for similar care.

Amrit Kafle, Bi-Plane Cath Lab In-Charge, remarked that the Hospital’s Bi-Plane Cath Lab played an instrumental role in making the treatment possible besides the acumen of highly trained surgeons.

Although the CMC has previously conducted numerous minimally invasive vascular procedures, Dr. Sah touted this case as the Hospital’s first highly complex brain artery repair of this nature without open surgery.

Just few days ago, the young lady was struggling to eat and feeling increasingly unwell.

Concerned about her condition, her family rushed her to the CMC where the advanced MRI and CT scans conducted on her revealed a shocking discovery: a major blood vessel in her brain had ruptured.

For many patients, such a neurological condition could be life-threatening. The condition, known as a brain aneurysm, occurs when a weakened blood vessel balloons and bursts, causing bleeding in the brain.

As the surgery was successfully performed on Sunday, the patient has been shifted from intensive care to a general ward since Monday.

Hospital officials reported that she is recovering well and is expected to be discharged after a final evaluation.

For the young lady and her grief-stricken family, what began as a frightening medical emergency has ended in relief-and a second chance at life, thanks to the timely medical intervention and well-equipped health facility.

The successful operation highlights the growing capabilities of Nepal’s healthcare sector.

Furthermore, the success story demonstrates how advanced neurovascular surgeries, once available only in major international centers, are increasingly being performed within the country.