A 70 Year old farmer from Munavalli (Savadatti Taluk) was rushed to a local hospital with severe chest pain, profuse sweating, generalized weakness and breathlessness. After initial stabilization, he was referred to CentraCare Hospital, Tilakwadi, Belagavi for specialised care.
Consulting Cardiologist Dr Shahabaz Patel noted abnormal ECG findings in the patient. Further diagnostic testing, including a chest X-ray and detailed examination, revealed the unusual complication the patient had ‘Situs Inversus’.
‘Situs Inversus’ is a rare condition where the major organs in the chest and abdomen are positioned as a mirror image of their normal location. In this case, the patient’s heart was on the right side, the liver on the left, and the stomach on the right, posing a significant anatomical challenge for intervention.
Recognizing the case complexity, Dr. Patel proceeded with a Coronary Angiogram, which confirmed a complete occlusion (blockage) of the Right Coronary Artery. Dr. Shahabaz Patel and team successfully navigated the mirror-image anatomy to perform a Primary Angioplasty, removing the plaque and successfully placing a stent in the blocked artery.
“Situs Inversus” is an extremely rare condition, making this Primary Angioplasty complex and challenging. I am professionally satisfied that the procedure was performed successfully,” said Dr. Shahabaz Patel.
The patient recovered well and was shifted to the ward, discharged on the second day of hospitalization, highlighting the procedure’s success and the hospital’s high-level care.
Dr. Neeta Deshpande, Medical Director of CentraCare Hospital, extended her congratulations, stating, “We are immensely proud of Dr. Shahabaz and our Cath-Lab team for successfully performing this rare feat. The patient’s family members expressed their profound gratitude for Dr. Patel’s skill and the excellent facilities provided by CentraCare Hospital.