New lease of life to techie through VA-ECMO

For the first time in Andhra Pradesh, a patient who suffered from Cardiogenic Shock and Pulmonary Edema, was given a new lease of life through VA-ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) at Aster Ramesh Hospital, Guntur.
A 35-year-old software engineer experienced severe chest pain after a morning temple visit in Mangalagiri. Initially mistaking it for gas pain, he took an antacid. When the pain intensified, he visited a local nursing home in Mangalagiri, where an ECG confirmed a heart attack. He was referred to a hospital with cardiac specialisation. Consulting a family physician in Guntur, more tests confirmed a severe heart attack, prompting a referral to Aster Ramesh Hospital for Emergency Primary Angioplasty.
The patient was swiftly examined by a cardiac team led by senior cardiologist Dr Ramarao. Diagnosed with cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema, he was put on a ventilator and transferred to the cath lab. An intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted, and an angiogram revealed a 100% blocked main artery. Emergency angioplasty was performed to remove the clots.
Despite these efforts, the patient showed signs of multi-organ failure, including rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, reduced urine output, inadequate oxygen levels and heart pumping was low as it was a massive heart attack and he was in cardiogenic shock. The medical team suggested ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) as a last resort. With family consent, the patient was connected to the ECMO machine.
Dr. Ramarao stated that the patient’s life was saved through emergency angioplasty, intra-aortic balloon pump, and ECMO support. This marked the first time such a procedure was performed in Andhra Pradesh at Aster Ramesh Hospitals.