Ludhiana, December 31
A marathon 10-hour-long surgical procedure for removal of arterio venous malformation (AVM) from the left occipital area of a young, four-month pregnant woman at Sobti Neuro and Trauma Centre here saved the life of the patient, as well as the unborn child.
Addressing a news conference here today, noted neuro-surgeon and former Head of Neuro Surgery at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Dr M.K. Sobti, said that the patient suffering from vascular malformation of the brain and a history of episodes of seizures, followed by unconsciousness was admitted for treatment. Found to have bleeding in the back of the brain, the angiography of the patient revealed a left occipital AVM, which in simple terms meant a bunch of abnormal blood vessels.
After being put on conservative treatment till she attained consciousness, the patient Ms Gurjit Kaur, a resident of Phagwara, was put for surgical procedure in view of more chances of relapsed bleeding during pregnancy, which could, at times, endanger the life of the patient. The team of Dr Sobti and Dr Gaurav Kuthiala (anaesthetist) performed the completely uneventful surgery under a microscope. A post- operative ultrasound of the patient revealed a healthy baby. A repeat angiography after over two months of the surgery showed no abnormality. Ms Gurjit was leading an absolutely normal life and was looking forward to a healthy baby.
Dr Sobti
emphasised the need for proper and thorough investigation in cases of brain haemorrhage because in most of the cases, the underlying cause was treatable. He further said that the peak incidence of haemorrhage from AVM occurred between 15 to 20 weeks of pregnancy and the risk of recurrence after the initial bleeding were 4 per cent per year, which in other words meant that such patients needed complete treatment for this serious condition of the brain.
