For people who initially survive a heart attack, a significant cause of death in the next few days is cardiac rupture — literally, bursting of the heart wall. It is the most feared complication of a heart attack.
Therefore, we heartily congratulate Dr Shirish Borkar, chief cardiovascular surgeon of the Goa Medical College, for having successfully saved the lives of two patients who presented with post-attack rupture of the left ventricular wall. All the more so, because surgery of such patients is difficult and demanding. First, the surgeon has to work with a seriously ill patient. Second, he deals with a lot of dead tissue and therefore the Dacron or Teflon patch, must be large enough to cover the area of rupture and surrounding necrotic tissue encompassing the neighboring viable myocardium. Lastly, if lives are to be saved, surgery has to be done in the nick of time. We therefore heartily congratulate Dr. Borkar and his team.
Dr. Francisco Colaco, Margao
