MUSCAT – A severely injured expatriate patient with a critical and near-fatal condition post road accident was saved by a rare surgery conducted by a top Omani surgeon at a well-known private hospital.
Dr Ahmed Salim Mohammed Al Aufi, consultant vascular and trauma surgery, successfully performed the highly complex and lifesaving vascular procedure – TEVAR (thoracic endovascular aortic repair) and saved the life of Mumtaz Ahmed, 38, whose life then had hung in a balance, at the Muscat Private Hospital.
‘Medical breakthrough’
The rare surgery is hailed as the first-ever one conducted in a private hospital in Oman and was cited as a “medical breakthrough”, officials of the hospital said at a press conference held last Thursday.
“This medical breakthrough showcases cutting-edge expertise, advanced technology, and unwavering commitment to patient care in the private sector.
“The TEVAR procedure was successfully performed on Ahmed, who, after a horrific road accident on April 25, sustained multiple injuries, including rib and spine fractures, a liver injury, and most critically, a serious tear in the main blood vessel (aorta) near the heart—a condition that is often fatal if not treated immediately,” informed Raymond Elias, medical director.
Dangerous tear
Ahmed was involved in a serious car crash on April 25 in Kalba, Musandam following which he was taken to a nearby government hospital, where doctors checked his condition and ran detailed scans. He had multiple injuries, including broken ribs, a fractured spine, a liver injury, and a dangerous tear in a major blood vessel near his heart.
Shifted to MPH
To keep his blood pressure under control, he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he received special medication. Although doctors initially tried to transfer him to a government hospital, equipped with advanced vascular treatment facilities, however multiple emergencies, prevented them from shifting him there. After discussing with the authorities at the hospital, they explored private healthcare options and decided to move Ahmed to MPH, Baushar, ensuring that he received the best possible care.
TEVAR procedure
Under the expert care of Dr Ahmed Al Aufi, the visiting vascular and trauma surgeon, the patient underwent the TEVAR, on May 3, a minimally invasive procedure that involved inserting a stent through the blood vessels to repair the torn aorta. This delicate operation was performed with great precision by its multidisciplinary medical team.
Significant milestone
“It is a significant milestone in Oman’s private healthcare sector and a major medical achievement at MPH. The TEVAR procedure was a complete success, and the patient is now recovering well. He is conscious, stable, and undergoing physiotherapy. He is expected to be discharged by the end of this week after routine follow-up scans,” Dr Al Aufi confirmed.
Advanced capabilities
“This achievement highlights the advanced capabilities and commitment of a private hospital to provide world-class emergency and surgical care, in Oman. It also demonstrates the importance of rapid response, teamwork, and medical innovation in saving lives.” This medical breakthrough showcases cutting-edge expertise, advanced technology, and unwavering commitment to patient care in the private sector.
The team led by Dr Aufi consisted of Dr Zahra, consultant anesthetist; Cathlab team (nurses, technician); OT nurses, ICU and ward nurses and additional support from Dr Raymond, Dr Amr Hassan, consultant and the head of department of the Heart Center; marketing and administration team, made this milestone possible.
Collaboration and coordination
“It is the result of the collaboration and coordination between government and private hospital as well as among various departments within us which worked as a team in making it a success, said Hassan Al Lawati, Ceo, MPH, adding that the effort and the eventual success aligned their activities towards Oman’s Vision 2040.
Highest caliber
“We have the highest caliber in the country. Every single department in the healthcare matters, which include the biomedical department, which are often the unsung heroes in an organisation. We could set the best example of PPP (Public Private Partnership) collaboration as we believe that we don’t compete but we complete each other,” he added.
Hassan Lawati, Dr Raymond, Dr Zahra, Dr Aufi, Dr Amr Abdullah Mohammed Hassan, HOD, consultant interventional cardiologist, Vijay and Madhu and the patient Ahmed was present at the press conference.
Strong message
“This accident sends out a strong message that seatbelts should be made mandatory for all inside the car including those in the back as well as front seats.
Here, the critical injury happened to the one who sat in the back seat,” Dr Aufi noted, adding that “we all work under one umbrella of healthcare at its best by the Ministry of Health and we are bound to support the country”.
The accident claimed the life of another passenger inside the ill-fated car.
Photos: V K Shafeer
0 Comments