Limb-saving surgery saves 85YO Hyd woman's leg from amputation

Hyderabad: A limb-saving surgery was successfully performed on an 85-year-old woman suffering from severe osteoarthritis of the knees and lower limb ischemia at a hospital in Hyderabad.

The 85-year-old woman from Old City, Hyderabad, was suffering from severe osteoarthritis of the knees and was bedridden. Around eight days ago, she started feeling pain in her right leg and her toes became discloured. She underwent arterial and venous Doppler study of both limbs. Arterial Doppler of the right limb revealed that she had a thrombus in the femoral artery which was causing limb ischemia and the pain in the right leg was due to ischemia of the muscles. If the thrombus gets organized, then there was a risk of her developing gangrene which would probably lead to the amputation of her right leg.

Initially, it was suggested that the patient be treated with thrombolysis or IV Heparin infusion. But giving thrombolysis to an elderly woman was very risky as it could lead to IC BLEED. The doctors then decided to consult a vascular surgeon. Based on further evaluation, the treating doctor decided to perform surgical thrombectomy that involves the removal of thrombus from the leg.

The treating team, led by Dr. Pritee Sharma, vascular surgeon, Dr. Pradeep Kandlekar, senior consultant anaesthetist and the critical care team, successfully conducted the surgery and removed the thrombus from the leg. After the removal of the thrombus, pain in the right leg disappeared as there was good blood now flowing to the leg arteries. The post-operative period was uneventful and the patient recovered well and was discharged.

During a press meet, Dr. Pritee Sharma of Renova Hospitals, Langar House, said the patient was facing a complete risk of losing a limb due to lower limb ischemia. Further, the risk increased due to age and cardiac conditions like pacemaker in situ. She explained that under these circumstances, with the objective to save the limb and the patient's life, the doctors went ahead and performed the surgery which was a success. She appealed to the people to consult the right expert so they can get the right treatment.