Indian Express
14 July 2010

Thirty–year–old Rahul Ranpise’s left artery blockage caused a major heart attack and hypoxic brain injury, but correct and timely diagnosis saved his life
AHUL Ranpise had a family hisR tory of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), but it came as a bolt from the blue when this 30–year–old experienced sudden chest discomfort and his general practitioner had to urgently shift him to a hospital.

His condition was suggestive of shock and the blood pressure was not recordable, says Dr Rahul Patil, interventional cardiologist. In fact, on the way to the hospital, the patient’s brother found him listless. At the hospital, he was subjected to vigorous shock treatment (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) including a cardiac massage. Endotra cheal intubation, wherein a tube was passed down his throat, and injections Adrenaline and Atropine aided ventilation.

After 15 minutes of vigorous shock treat ment (CPR), Ranpise’s pulse rate (cardiac electrical activity) started. On further ex amination, the ECG showed major heart attack caused by the blockage of the artery.

Ranpise had a lack of oxygen supply to his brain due to the blockage of his left artery and the cardiologist suggested an immedi ate angioplasty. The possibility of hypoxic brain damage due to lack of oxygen supply could not be ruled out.

The patient was shifted to the cath lab and primary angioplasty was performed.

After long hours of effort put in by the doc tors, his heart condition improved, but he took two and a half months to recover from the hypoxic brain injury. At present, Ranpise is con scious, and is able to understand and speak a little. Correct diagnosis and timely intervention by Dr Patil and his team of doctors gave him a new life. Dr Patil, the youngest cardiology consultant at Noble hospital and Ruby Hall Clinic, won the Best Interventional Cardiologist award in Singapore in 2008. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease, is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply your heart muscle with oxygen–rich blood. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. When plaque builds up in the arter ies, the condition is called atherosclerosis. It is the most common type of heart disease. Lifestyle changes, medicines, and/or medical procedures can effectively prevent or treat CAD in most people.