30-yr-old survives 'widow-maker disease'

Xavio Bonnie (30) was on his way to work last Friday when he started experiencing chest pain and passed out. The autorickshaw driver took the software professional back to his Thane residence. Neha Bhayana reports.

Xavio Bonnie (30) was on his way to work last Friday when he started experiencing chest pain and passed out. The autorickshaw driver took the software professional back to his Thane residence.

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Bonnie's wife Subi and relatives rushed him to Jay Anand Hospital, where Dr Dayanand Kumbla administered a medicine that helps bust blood clots. Strangely, it did not work.

Bonnie suffered another cardiac arrest at 7.30 pm and he was shifted to Jupiter Hospital in Thane. A unique procedure saved his life in the nick of time.

Interventional cardiologist Dr Vijay Surase was surprised when he peeked into Bonnie's heart during angiography. There was 100 per cent blockage in his left main coronary artery, the most important vessel supplying blood to the heart.

Block of this artery is called 'widow-maker disease' as survival rate is very low.

"Patients with a block in the left main artery usually don't live to reach the hospital," said Dr Surase.

What was even more shocking was that Bonnie's left main artery was split into four, equal-sized branches instead of the normal two. The clot prevented blood circulation in all four branches. This created trouble for doctors who had to decide which branch to save.

They adopted a novel method called 'Kissing Balloon Technique' and managed to salvage all branches. Usually, cardiologists save only the main branch but they decided not to do that considering the size of Bonnie's artery branches.

"While putting the stent across one branch, we simultaneously ballooned others to keep them open," said Dr Surase, adding that the procedure was completed within 15 minutes as Bonnie was sinking.

Bonnie is doing well after the surgery. Subi is glad that he will be home to celebrate their daughter's first birthday next month.