The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), in collaboration with Turkish doctors, successfully performed the country’s first-ever “Total Arch Replacement with Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique” — a highly complex 16-hour heart surgery on a 16-year-old patient from Khairpur, 24NewsHD TV reported on Tuesday.
In a landmark achievement for Pakistan’s medical community, the procedure was conducted under the supervision of Turkish cardiac surgeon Prof Ugursay Kiziltepe, who was specially invited for the operation.
He led the surgery alongside NICVD’s expert team comprising Dr Khuzaima Tariq, Prof Asad Bilal Awan, Dr Muhammad Fahad, and Prof Amin M Khuwaja.
NICVD officials said the young patient is now recovering rapidly and is in stable condition following the surgical procedure.
The surgery, which would normally cost around Rs 6 million, was carried out free of charge, thanks to Sindh's support.
NICVD Executive Director Prof Tahir Saghir praised the surgical team for their exceptional skill and dedication, noting that the procedure marks a new era in cardiac surgery in Pakistan.
Prof Kiziltepe expressed his honor at being part of this achievement, saying, “Performing this pioneering surgery in Pakistan is a privilege.
Reporter: Mubashir Hussain