Claimed to be the first of its kind 'Re-do heart surgery' in the country, a team of doctors at the MIOT Hospitals, Chennai, successfully conducted an emergency heart surgery to save the life of a Sri Lankan citizen.

The team of doctors led by Dr.Bashi, cardio-thoracic surgeon at the MIOT hospital, replaced the aortic valve made of artificial materials and implanted a coronary artery on the patient Firthouse, who was airlifted to Chennai from Colombo on the advise of the doctors there.

The tests done at the MIOT hospital, including angiogram, revealed that the patient had developed a 'dissecting aneurysm of the root, ascending and in the arch of aorta', a situation wherein the dilated aorta formed like a balloon threatening to burst at anytime, endangering the life of the patient.

MIOT hospital, which had undertaken 15 aneurysm repair surgeries before, took up the challenge of replacing the aorta, said a communication from the hospital.

While performing the 10-hour surgery, the patient was connected with the heart-lung machine in the blood veins of the femoral, heart blood temperature was reduced to 18 Degree Celsius, and blood supply to the brain was regulated. The surgery was done about ten days ago, and Firthouse, recovering well, may be discharged to his native country soon, say within a week's time.

Sources noted that the success rate of the operation was just 50 percent while performing the operation. Further, the patient had undergone a valve surgery in the same area in a Colombo hospital about six years ago, and the same valve was damaged, which was replaced by the MIOT surgeons. The team of doctors who participated in the surgery includes Dr.Bashi, Dr.Srinivasa Babu, Dr.Das, Dr.Aju Jacob and Dr.Subramaniam.