Western India’s first double bridging heart surgery

Dr. Anvay Mulay, Director of Cardiac Surgery, and his team of advance cardiac surgery team at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, have successfully performed a ground-breaking procedure using the Double Bridging Technique to support the left and right ventricles of three patients suffering from severe heart failure. This marks the first time this advanced technique to been used in Western India, providing a second lease of life to patients who were in dire need of immediate care.

All three patients arrived at the hospital’s heart failure clinic in critical condition, requiring urgent evaluation. Each underwent a thorough assessment, including right heart catheterization, donor-specific antibody testing, and other comprehensive evaluations to determine their eligibility for heart transplant. These tests were crucial, given the severity of their conditions and their individual medical histories.

One of the patients, Rohit (name changed) Mumbai resident, had been battling heart issues for nearly a decade. Earlier this year, his heart function deteriorated to a dangerous level, with only 10% of it still working. The medical team employed the Double Bridging Technique, an uncommon method that uses ventricular assist devices (VADs) to support both sides of the heart—a departure from the usual practice of supporting only one side.

In addition, two other young patients, who had no prior history of heart issues, underwent similar surgeries, further highlighting the uniqueness of these cases.

One patient Amit, 41 (name changed) shared their experience: “I had been struggling with a persistent cough and chest discomfort. After visiting another doctor, I was referred to HN Reliance for advanced care. Several tests revealed that fluid buildup in my chest had significantly weakened my heart’s ability to pump, and I needed a transplant. I’m now recovering and doing much better.”

The other young patient (17) discovered their heart condition unexpectedly through routine blood work. His father Avinash (name changed) recalled, “We had no idea anything was wrong until we got the blood test results. It was a shock, but thanks to the hospital’s guidance, my child received the necessary treatment and is now recovering.”

The evaluation and procedure were led by Dr. Mulay, a highly experienced cardiac surgeon with more than 30 years in the field and over 10,000 successful surgeries. Known for his expertise in handling complex cardiac cases, Dr. Mulay emphasized the importance of acting quickly, stating that even a 24-hour delay could have proven fatal in these cases.

“To stabilize the patients while waiting for donor organs, the medical team initially used a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). However, as their conditions worsened, it became clear that additional support was required. We quickly introduced a right ventricular assist device (RVAD), and in one case, we converted the patient’s extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to a biventricular support system,” said Dr. Anvay Mulay, Director of Cardiac Surgery at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital.

About H.N. Reliance Foundation: Located in Girgaon, Mumbai, Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital is a 345-bed, multi-Speciality tertiary care hospital with top level expertise in areas of Cardiac Sciences, Gastroenterology & Hepatobiliary Sciences, Liver Transplant, Nephro-Urology, Neuro Sciences, Oncology, Orthopaedics & Spine, Woman & Child Health and Critical Care. The Hospital has progressive diagnostic services, including Laboratories, Radiology & Imaging, and Nuclear Medicine. This is a technologically-advanced institution designed to international standards and the most stringent criteria in infrastructure, medical care, fire-safety norms, and environmental guidelines.

For More info: https://www.rfhospital.org/