Heart surgery without loss of blood

Dombivili-resident and Western railway employee Gabriel Kabilar, 59, had a history of heart problems. In February this year, he had 90% blockage in three of his heart vessels. Surgeons in Madurai and Kalyan called his heart a ticking time bomb, advising surgery at the earliest.

However, Kabilar is a Jehovah’s Witness. As a member of the Christian religious movement that believes that it is a sin to accept blood, Kabilar was against the idea of a blood transfusion during surgery.

“My religion prevents me from accepting blood. If the alternative is death, so be it,” Kabilar said while his 40-year-old wife Nutan, who married Kabilar a year ago, agreed. Fortunately for Kabilar, science came to his rescue. On April 8, doctors at Wockhardt hospital performed a ‘beating heart surgery’ which ensured that he did not lose any blood.

Conventionally, doctors use a cardio pulmonary bypass machine. Blood flows into a machine which acts as an artificial heart, pumping and purifying blood before sending it back. This technique, however, involves the risk of blood loss, explained Dr Ajay Chaughule, cardiovascular surgeon, Wockhardt hospital.

“We performed coronary artery bypass graft while keeping the heart beating, resulting in zero blood loss,” he explained.

Kabilar had suffered from severe heart attacks in 1986 and in 2006, the pumping capacity of his heart was just 20%. He was also underweight and a diabetic.

Fortunately, the beating heart technique worked. Kabilar was discharged three days post surgery and has gained six kilos since. Revitalised, Kabilar now plans to have a baby.