The operation was performed on an accident victim with heavy internal bleeding, according to Dr. Nora Rashad, who led the operation team.
“The victim was referred to the center by King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah. After a specialist team completed the diagnoses, it was decided that it was appropriate to urgently conduct an operation to repair an aortic dissection through catheterization,” Rashad said.
The operation team was composed of highly specialized heart physicians and surgeons including Dr. Wail Kashkari, Dr. Mishal Gandour and Dr. Ahmad Samman.
Kashkari said this operation is considered rare because there was no surgical intervention and no scalpels were used. The only procedure was a very minor incision to expose the artery.
The Heart Disease and Surgery Center is turning into a leader in heart treatment and surgery in Kingdom, according to Dr. Hasan Bakhamees, chief executive director of KAMC.
“It provides a complete set of clinical services that are of international standards,” he said. “The center conducted over 170 open heart surgeries and around 500 catheterizations, including complex cases, last year.”
