A desperate search across four hospitals, rapidly fading hope and an emergency operation performed against overwhelming odds culminated in what doctors and the patient's family describe as a second chance at life for a man suffering from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), one of the deadliest vascular emergencies in medicine.
The ordeal began when a couple of weeks ago, 62-year-old Lalit Silas suddenly developed severe abdominal pain accompanied by bleeding while passing stools. What initially appeared to be a gastrointestinal emergency soon turned out to be far more sinister. As his condition deteriorated rapidly, every passing minute reduced his chances of survival.
According to the patient's sister, Dr. Anita Benjamin, a former Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) teacher and now a social worker, the family rushed him to four leading hospitals in Delhi and the National Capital Region. However, none were willing to undertake the extremely high-risk surgery, as the aneurysm had already ruptured, leading to massive internal bleeding, and his prognosis was considered extremely poor.
It was only after the patient was taken to Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Noida Extension, that a team comprising vascular surgeons and gastroenterologists led by Dr. Jeewan Pillai, Director Cardio Thoracic & Vascular Surgeon, diagnosed the condition in which the wall of the body's largest artery tears, causing blood to rapidly accumulate inside the abdomen. Without immediate surgery, mortality is extremely high.
"We had virtually lost all hope," Dr. Benjamin and the patient’s son Aman Silas recalled. "After being turned away by four hospitals, we thought there was nothing more that could be done. Then Dr. Pillai told us that the surgery was extremely risky but that his team was willing to take the chance. Those words gave us the first ray of hope after hours of uncertainty."
The decision to operate was taken immediately, and the patient, after a quick recovery, has now been discharged. Dr. Pillai said a ruptured AAA is among the most time-sensitive surgical emergencies because every minute of continued bleeding significantly reduces the likelihood of survival.
"The abdominal aorta is the largest artery supplying blood to the lower half of the body. Unlike external injuries, the bleeding remains concealed inside the abdomen, making rapid diagnosis essential. Patients often arrive in profound shock, with dangerously low blood pressure, altered consciousness and multiple organs already deprived of adequate blood supply,” Dr. Pillai explained.
Every decision has to be made within minutes. The challenge is not only to repair the ruptured artery but also to replace the massive blood loss and maintain blood flow to vital organs throughout the procedure, he said.
Dr. Sameer Saurabh Arora, Director and Head of Department, Cardiac Anaesthesiology and Cardiac Intensive Care, added that because of the availability of advanced endovascular techniques here, we were able to successfully treat this patient through a minimally invasive approach, significantly enhancing the chances of survival.
Dr. Hardik Ahuja, Consultant, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, echoed the same views, saying, "This was a complex case, as the patient had ongoing massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Through advanced diagnostic techniques including balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy, we were able to identify the actual sources of the bleeding.”
At the same time, Dr. Arora stressed the importance of regular health checkups for those above 40 years and early diagnosis of AAA, which often remains silent until it ruptures. “The condition is more common among older adults, particularly men with a history of smoking, hypertension or cardiovascular disease, and usually causes few or no symptoms in its early stages.”
He said sudden severe abdominal or back pain accompanied by dizziness, collapse or signs of shock should be treated as a medical emergency requiring immediate hospital care.
In the meantime, for the family, the successful outcome was nothing short of miraculous. Aman Silas and Dr. Anita Benjamin said, "We have no words to thank the doctors for saving my father's life. When every door seemed to close, they chose to fight for him. We will always remain grateful for giving him a second chance at life.”
