Historic Breakthrough at SMS Hospital: Doctors Perform Rare 8-Hour Triple Cardiac Surgery, Saving 25-Year-Old Patient
SMS Hospital achieved a historic breakthrough as a 25-year-old patient with three life-threatening cardiac conditions underwent a rare eight-hour triple heart surgery. Led by Dr. Anil Sharma, the complex Bentall procedure, Total Arch Replacement, and Coarctation repair were successfully completed, marking a globally rare medical feat with full recovery progress reported.
The patient was suffering from a congenital condition known as Coarctation of the Aorta, along with a severely damaged heart valve and an aortic arch aneurysm. According to doctors, without surgical intervention, the patient’s survival would not have exceeded one year.
The intricate operation involved three major procedures performed in one session. The first was the Bentall procedure, in which the damaged heart valve and aorta were replaced with a synthetic graft, and the coronary arteries were re-implanted. The second was a Total Arch Replacement, where the entire aortic arch, identified as a bovine arch, was replaced with an arch graft. During this stage, the patient’s body temperature was reduced to 20 degrees Celsius, and blood circulation was halted for 32 minutes. To protect brain function, selective cerebral perfusion was maintained to ensure continuous blood flow to the brain. The third procedure involved repair of the Coarctation of the Aorta, in which the narrowed segment of the aorta was excised and replaced with the grafted arch segment.
Medical experts highlighted the rarity of the case, stating that the combination of Bentall surgery, Total Arch Replacement, and Coarctation of the Aorta repair has been reported fewer than ten times globally. The hospital also noted that this may be the first such combined procedure performed in India. The cumulative surgical risk, which stands between five to eight percent for each individual procedure, increased significantly when combined, with an estimated overall risk escalation of approximately 62 percent. Despite these challenges, the surgery was completed successfully.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Dr. Anil Sharma, with Dr. Sunil Dixit, Dr. Mohit Sharma, Dr. Saurabh Mittal, Dr. Vaktaram Chaudhary, Dr. Gaurav, Dr. Pratanshi, Dr. Rakesh, Dr. Kulraj, and Dr. Suraj forming part of the surgical team. Cardiac anesthesiologists Dr. Reema Meena, Dr. Anjum, and Dr. Arun also played a critical role. The perfusion team included Pranjali, Pulkit, and Arti, while Nursing In-Charge Sudha contributed significantly to the successful execution of the procedure.
The patient received completely free treatment under the Bhajanlal Government’s Maa Scheme. Post-surgery, he remained on ventilator support for 14 hours and was shifted from the intensive care unit to the general ward on the third day. Doctors have confirmed that the patient is now ambulatory, in stable condition, and recovering well, with discharge expected soon.
This extraordinary surgical success underscores the growing capabilities of advanced cardiac surgery in India and highlights the precision, coordination, and expertise required to manage some of the rarest and most high-risk cardiac conditions known to modern medicine.

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